Your Body and Breastfeeding
As soon as you can hold baby, you can breastfeed her. In the first few days following birth, your breasts will produce a clear to yellow sticky substance called
Colostrum comes out in small amounts compared to later breast milk, which will fill the alveoli (or milk ducts) of your breast about three days after birth. You'll know when your milk “comes in” — your breasts will become engorged with milk, be rock hard, and feel sore to the touch. Nursing your baby will relieve the pressure quickly, although it's possible you will need a little additional help to ease soreness. A few clinical studies have shown some benefit in the use of cabbage leaves (yes, cabbage leaves) to relieve the discomfort of engorgement. Massage and warm compresses can also help.
Latching and Letdown
Some babies seem to be breastfeeding champs from the get-go, while others need a little coaching. You're both new at this, so have patience and remember that you'll get better with practice. If you're having a hospital stay after your birth, the nurses on the maternity ward can give you some pointers on technique and check baby's latch. In some cases there will be a lactation specialist on staff to consult with.
Sore or dry and cracked nipples are common phenomena as you get on the breastfeeding launch pad. Never fear — they will toughen up. In the meantime, try vitamin E oil for moisturizing, or lanolin ointment for easing abrasions and pain. You'll only need a tiny dollop with each.
Start with a comfortable position for the two of you. Baby's whole body should face yours, not just her turned head. The cradle and cross-cradle holds are two common positions. The cradle holds your baby close across the front of your body, with her head in the crook of your arm and your hand supporting her bottom. The cross-cradle switches arms and puts your hand under her head. Lying down with baby facing you is a good choice for the utterly exhausted.
The football position (or clutch hold) tucks baby under your arm, again facing your body and breast. If you've had a C-section, this can help by keeping the weight off your incision. It's also a favorite of moms with twins who are doing double nursing duty. (Return to Chapter 13 for tips on breastfeeding multiples.) The seated Australian hold (see illustration, below) might be a good choice if you'd like to try to keep baby awake during and after his feeding. With all nursing positions, make sure your baby's head is well supported.
Choose a comfortable nursing position that works for both of you, and make sure baby's head is well supported.
After you're settled into position, brace your breast with one hand, cupped in the shape of a
Use the C-hold to support your breast for baby and encourage a proper latch.
Cross-cradle hold
Football clutch hold
Side-lying hold
Encouraging baby to get a successful latch is the most important part of the process. Stroke her bottom lip with your nipple until she opens her mouth wide and yawnlike. This is called the
A proper latch:
Encompasses the entire nipple and most, if not all, of the areola.
Positions baby's nose almost directly on your breast. (She can breathe, don't worry.)
Can be verified by her visible and possibly audible swallowing.
Will
As your baby nurses, you'll feel a warm tingling that signals the milk ejection reflex (MER) or letdown. The sensation is actually that of milk being released into the sinuses of the breast for easy access by baby. Some women don't always feel the MER, but you'll know that it occurs when your baby suddenly picks up his pace of sucking and swallowing.
Supply and Demand System
When the process operates as designed, the more baby nurses, the more milk your breasts produce. A breast that baby has completely drained will produce milk at a faster rate than one that has only been partially emptied. Your milk production takes its cue from baby. So if your child is premature or ill and isn't nursing, or is latching or sucking ineffectively, your milk supply will adjust downward. A breast pump can help keep the milk flowing until baby is ready to nurse full-time again.
I feel like I'm nursing constantly! Is he not getting enough food?
Newborns don't believe much in schedules. In some cases constant nursing in a fussy baby can indicate an insufficient milk supply. But as long as he's growing fine and is having six to eight wet diapers and about three dirty diapers daily, you can be assured he's getting plenty to eat.
Nursing ten to twelve times a day is normal for a newborn. That may seem like a lot, but just bear with it; as the weeks pass and he develops, he'll spend more time exploring and less time eating. In the meantime, his frequent snacks are helping to establish and grow your milk supply, which is great.
Practical Matters
Button-up blouses, shirts with zippers, and other easy-access clothing make nursing easier on a day-to-day basis. There are a variety of nursing bras available; make sure you try them on before purchase to ensure a good fit. You might opt for the comfort of a simple jogging or sports bra that slides up easily, especially if you like the added support of wearing a bra to bed.
Nursing pads for catching leaks before they soak through your shirt are also a must. These come in several different materials and configurations, including cloth, plastic, and disposable. Disposable has the advantage of high absorbency, while cloth can be washed and reused. Accidents do happen, even with pads, and carrying an extra shirt in your bag or car can save you a mortifying moment or two.
Every nursing mother could use a good breastfeeding reference book for guidance.
