How To Properly Breastfeed A Newborn Baby

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.

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.

How To Feed Your Baby

Look for your baby’s early signs of wanting to feed:

• rooting reflex you will see your baby turn their head and open their mouth in search of food when you touch their mouth or cheek
• licking of lips
• putting their hands to their mouth – babies that have their hands free can show you easily that they are hungry

Crying is a late hunger cue. A crying baby will need to be calmed before feeding.

These images show the average size of a newborn’s stomach and how much milk it can hold:

Figure 1: These images show the average size of a newborn’s stomach and how much milk it can hold:

The images show a cherry, a walnut, an apricot and an egg, to illustrate how much milk a newborn’s stomach can hold at 1-2 days old , 3-4 days , 5-6 days and at 7 days .

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If Your Baby Is Well Attached:

• Your babys mouth is open wide with a large amount of your breast drawn inside.

• Their chin is pressed into your breast.

• Their nose is clear or only just touching your breast.

• Your babys lower lip is turned out and may even be tucked into your breast so not visible. Its normal for the upper lip to rest in a neutral position.

• Their tongue is forward over their lower gum .

• A lot of your areola is in your baby’s mouth, more so on the ‘chin side’.

• Your babys cheeks will be full and rounded.

• It won’t be painful. You may feel some discomfort in the early weeks as your baby attaches but once your milk starts to flow, this should settle.

• You will be able to see your baby sucking and swallowing rhythmically.

Are There Any Foods Or Drinks That I Should Avoid While Breastfeeding

Similarly to when you were pregnant, you should pay attention to what you eat and drink when youre breastfeeding. There arent as many restrictions when youre breastfeeding as there are when you are pregnant, but a few things to keep in mind include:

• Cutting back on your caffeine. You can drink caffeine when youre breastfeeding, but try to limit it to about 200 milligrams each day. You might also want to time your cup of coffee so that youre not drinking caffeine before your childs nap or bedtime feeding. The caffeine could pass through your milk and to your baby.
• Limiting your alcohol intake. You can also drink a limited amount of alcohol when youre breastfeeding. However, you should wait a few hours after a drink before you feed your baby. Over time, the alcohol will leave your system. Its safest for your baby if you wait after drinking to breastfeed because it can pass through your milk and could possibly cause harm.

Its also good to quit smoking if you havent already. Secondhand smoke is dangerous to children. Smoking is not only harmful to your children and your own health, but it can also decrease your milk supply. You shouldnt smoke or use any other type of drug around your baby.

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Dancer Hand Nursing Position

If your baby struggles to stay latched on or has low muscle tone perhaps because he was born prematurely, has a condition such as Downs syndrome, or has an illness or disability try this hold to support both his head and your breast.4 Start by cupping your breast with your hand underneath, fingers on one side and thumb on the other. Then edge your hand forwards so your thumb and index finger form a U shape just in front of the breast. Your three remaining fingers should continue to support the breast underneath. Rest your babys jaw on your thumb and index finger as he feeds, with his chin at the bottom of the U, your thumb gently holding one of his cheeks and your index finger the other. This hold gives your baby plenty of support and you control over his position, as well as a great view of his latch.

On Day 3 Keep Monitoring Your Baby And Milk Supply And Prepare For Your First Pediatrician Appointment

Before you leave the hospital, make sure your baby has a follow-up appointment scheduled with his pediatrician for the day after discharge. Days two to five are critical days for normal newborns to be seen by their pediatrician, said Dr. Vicki Roe, M.D., a pediatrician at North Point Pediatrics in Indiana. They are still losing weight and their jaundice levels could be increasing. A healthy baby can become a very sick baby quickly and we must monitor them closely to prevent complications.

According to Dr. Roe, its important for your baby to have a physical exam every day or every other day after youre discharged, until its clear that your baby is feeding well and that their jaundice is improving.

On day three, your breasts will begin to feel fuller and heavier and possibly start leaking as your milk comes in, though it could take six or more days after birth for your full milk production to start, especially if its your first baby or if you delivered via cesarean section. Delayed milk production typically has no bearing on your ability to have a full milk supply, but catching and managing it early and appropriately is important. If your full milk production is delayed, continue nursing every two to three hours and then supplement right after, until your milk comes in. Your pediatrician will advise you on how much banked donor milk or formula is needed and how to wean off it once your milk arrives.

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What If I Work

There is no reason you have to stop breastfeeding when you return to work. Make a plan for pumping your breast milk at work. The federal Break Time for Nursing Mothers law requires your employer to provide basic accommodations for breastfeeding mothers at work, according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services . These accommodations include time for women to express milk and a private space that is not a bathroom each time they need to pump, reports the HHS.

Breastfeed your baby before you leave for work, and every 3-4 hours at work . Keep the milk refrigerated and your baby can have it the next day while you are at work. It keeps for up to 4 days in the refrigerator. If you arent going to use the milk within 4 days, freeze it. Breastmilk will last up to 6-12 month in the freezer. After work, breastfeed your baby as you normally would.

How Can I Help My Baby Get A Good Latch While Learning To Breastfeed

The steps below can help your newborn latch on to the breast to start sucking when he or she is ready. Letting your baby begin the process of searching for the breast may take some of the pressure off you and keeps the baby calm and relaxed. This approach to learning to breastfeeding is a more relaxed, baby-led latch. Sometimes called biological nurturing, laid-back breastfeeding, or baby-led breastfeeding, this style of breastfeeding allows your baby to lead and follow his or her instincts to suck.

Keep in mind that there is no one way to start breastfeeding. As long as the baby is latched on well, how you get there is up to you.

If you have tried the “baby-led” approach and your baby is still having problems latching on, try these tips:

• Tickle the baby’s lips with your nipple to encourage him or her to open wide.
• Pull your baby close so that the baby’s chin and lower jaw moves in to your breast.
• Watch the baby’s lower lip and aim it as far from the base of the nipple as possible so that the baby takes a large mouthful of breast.

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Baby Placement At The Breast

Blend/Getty Images

A good latch is one of the most important parts of breastfeeding comfortably. This directly goes back to a good position of the baby. Your baby should be belly to belly with you and chin to breast. If the baby is twisted or has their head turned it can make it not only more difficult for them to get milk, but it can make your nipples sore.

Older babies are more likely to move around while nursing. This does not seem to cause most mothers any pain. But don’t let your newborn learn the sloppy habits of nursing older babies, they simply can’t get away with the same types of positions as nursing acrobats do at later stages.

Getting Baby To Latch

Any good lactation consultant will tell you: Latching is everything. Here’s how to do it:

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How Can I Tell If My Baby Gets Enough To Eat

Your baby’s diapers are excellent signs of whether your breastfed baby is getting what he or she needs. Because the first milk your newborn gets is concentrated, your baby may have only one or two wet diapers until your milk comes in, which is usually about 3 or 4 days after the birth.

After 4 days, here are some signs to look for:

• six or more wet diapers per day, with clear or very pale pee
• two or more yellow, seedy bowel movements per day, usually one after each feeding through 4 weeks of age. After about a month, breastfed babies usually have fewer bowel movements and many may not have one every day.

Your breastfed baby is also probably getting enough if he or she:

• seems alert and content
• is steadily gaining weight
• feeds between eight to 12 times per day

What Food Should I Eat While Breastfeeding

The best diet is well balanced and has plenty of calcium. A balanced diet includes eating from all 5 food groups. You should get 5 servings of milk or dairy products each day. It is okay to eat foods that were restricted while you were pregnant. These will not make your baby sick.

If you dont eat meat or dairy, you can get calcium from foods such as broccoli, sesame seeds, tofu, and kale. Talk to your doctor about taking a calcium supplement if you dont get enough from your diet.

You should eat about 500 extra calories per day. Make sure you drink extra fluids as well. Continue to take a prenatal vitamin so your body gets enough nutrients.

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Get Prepared For Breastfeeding In Public

At some point, you may like to breastfeed your baby while youâre in a public place. Here are some tips for breastfeeding in public:

• Wear clothing that allows you to easily access your breasts, like a loose top or a button-down shirt

• You may wish to use a nursing cover, oversized scarf, or light blanket to cover yourself when youâre breastfeeding. Practice this at home so that you and your baby can get used to it.

• Breastfeed while wearing your baby in a sling or soft baby carrier. Not only is this practical, it also keeps your baby comfortably close to you.

• Find a womenâs lounge or a dressing room in a department store so that you have somewhere peaceful to breastfeed.

Dont Give Up Breastfeeding If You Have Mastitis

Occasionally a clogged milk duct can get infected. This is a condition called mastitis, and the symptoms include fever- and cold-like symptoms swollen, painful breasts breasts that feel hot when touched a hard lump on your breast and red streaks on the skin of the breasts.

If you think you may mastitis, call your healthcare provider. Your provider may prescribe an antibiotic that is safe for you to take while breastfeeding your baby. Remember to finish the entire course of antibiotics, even if your symptoms have improved.

In the meantime, there are a few home remedies you can try:

• Apply a warm compress of wet or dry heat to the lump, or take a warm shower

• Offer your baby the breast with the blocked duct and let him nurse for a long period, as this can help drain the blocked duct. Donât worryâitâs safe for your baby to nurse, as the infection canât be passed onto him. In fact, continuing to breastfeed may actually help the infection clear sooner.

• Massage the lump at the same time as you nurse your baby

• Wear loose-fitting tops or donât wear a bra for a few days

• Pump any remaining milk after nursing your little one to help drain the blocked duct

• Take every opportunity to rest and drink lots of water.

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What Are Some Common Breastfeeding Latch Problems

Below are some common latch problems and how to deal with them.

• You’re 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 baby’s suction to your breast by placing a clean finger in the corner of your baby’s 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 baby’s 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.

Wait With Introducing A Pacifier

Giving your baby a pacifier can help soothe her between feeds however, offering it in those first few weeks can have a negative effect on your milk supply, and discourage your baby from wanting to nurse.

Experts recommend waiting until your baby has gotten used to breastfeeding before offering a pacifier.

Of course, you may use a pacifier sparingly to comfort your baby earlier than that, like when sheâs getting a vaccination, but you could also offer her your clean pinky finger to suckle on for comfort during these short periods.

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Consider Different Ways To Latch

To breastfeed, your baby needs to âlatch on.â This is when your baby is properly attached to your breast with his mouth wide open over your nipple, covering most of your areola, and his nose, lips, and chin close to your breast.

Here are two ways to get your baby to latch on when breastfeeding: