Beginning After Childbirth
Getting Started With Breast Feeding
When you hold your baby for the first time in the delivery room, you should put his lips to your breast.
Although your mature milk hasn’t developed yet, your breasts are still producing a substance known as colostrums that helps to protect your baby from infections.
If your baby has trouble finding or staying on your nipple, you shouldn’t fret. Breast feeding is an art that will require a lot of patience and a lot of practice.
No one expects you to be an expert when you first start, so you shouldn’t hesitate to ask for advice or have a nurse show you what you need to do.
Once you start, keep in mind that nursing shouldn’t be painful. When your baby latches on pay attention to how your breasts feel. If the latching on hurts, break the suction by placing the tip of your pinky finger in the corner of baby’s mouth then try again.
Some babies take the nipple into their mouth like they are slurping up spaghetti. While this sounds amusing, it can become quite painful. To encourage baby to open their mouth nice and wide before latching on, lightly brush the cheek closest to the breast to stimulate the ‘rooting reflex’. You will be amazed to watch your baby open wide, turn toward, and ‘hunt’ for the nipple.
Now it is just a matter of timing… connecting the wide mouth with the nipple. Don’t be afraid to hold your breast to make it easier to guide baby’s mouth to it.
You should nurse quite frequently, as the more you nurse the more quickly your mature milk will come in and the more milk you’ll produce. Breast feeding for 10 - 15 minutes per breast 8 - 10 times every 24 hours is an ideal target.
There is some opinion to the contrary to this however. It is suggested that you should drain one breast at a time so your baby will get the ‘high’ milk which is richer and higher in protein and alternate each breast at each feed. You may look and feel a bit lop-sided but it was the method I chose and my babies made great gains.
Crying is a sign of hunger, which means you should actually feed your baby before he starts crying. Doing this also lowers baby’s anxiety, builds trust and makes for a more contented infant.
During the first few days, you may have to wake your baby to begin breast feeding, and he may end up falling asleep during feeding. To ensure that your baby is eating often enough, you should wake him up if it has been four hours since the last time he has been fed.
Getting comfortable
Feedings can take 40 minutes or longer, therefore you’ll want a cosy spot. You don’t want to be sitting somewhere where you will be bothered, as it can make the process very hard. You may have a favourite arm chair or rocker.
Have lots of cushions and pillows handy to give support and comfort. A ‘Tri-pillow’ or Nursing pillow (pictured left) is a great investment as when positioned correctly it will give both the arm holding your baby, and your baby, comfort and support.
The First Six Weeks
Breast milk is the best food you can give to your baby. Breast milk is a complete food source, containing all the nutrients your baby need - at least 400 of them to be exact, including hormones and disease fighting compounds that aren’t founding formula.
The nutritional makeup in breast milk will adjust to your baby’s needs as he or she grows and develops. Aside from the brain building, infection fighting benefits of breast milk, which no formula can match, nursing will also help to build a special bond between you and your baby. When nursing, your child thrives on the contact, cuddling, and holding - and you will as well.
Since breast feedings can take up to 40 minutes or more, you should pick a cosy spot for nursing. The atmosphere is very important, even more so in the early days of breast feeding when you’re still trying to get the hang of it. If you get easily distracted by noise, go somewhere quiet.
You should always hold your baby in a position that won’t leave your arms or back sore. It works the best to support the back of your baby’s head with your hand, although which position you choose depends on what’s more comfortable to you. When supporting your baby, a nursing pillow can sometimes be a big help. You should never feed until both you and your baby are comfortable.Pay attention to how your breasts feel when your baby latches on, as his mouth should cover most of the areola below the nipple, and the nipple should be are back into your baby’s mouth.
While some women adjust to breast feeding easily, other moms find it hard to learn. If you feel discouraged, always know that you aren’t the only one. Everyone feels different when starting; it all depends on the mother and the situation. Breast feeding will take practice. Therefore, you should give yourself as much time as you need to get it down to second nature.
Always take it one feeding at a time. If you are having a bad day, tell yourself that it’ll get better. Keep in mind that any problems are temporary, as you’ll be nursing like a pro by your six week postpartum check-up.
The first six weeks will be both an adventure and training. You can’t expect to know everything when you begin, which is where training and practice will really help you excel. The more you breast feed, the more you’ll learn. You’ll also build a bond with your baby - which is something you’ll always have for the rest of your lives.
Breast Feeding And Jaundice
Jaundice is a result of build up in the blood of the bilirubin that comes from the breakdown of older red blood cells. It’s normal for the red blood cells to break down, although the bilirubin formed doesn’t normally cause jaundice because the liver will metabolize it and then get rid of it in the gut.
However, the newborn baby will often become jaundiced during the first few days due to the liver enzyme that metabolizes the bilirubin becoming relatively immature. Therefore, newborn babies will have more red blood cells than adults, and thus more will break down at any given time.
Breast Milk Jaundice
There is a condition that’s commonly referred to as breast milk jaundice, although no one knows what actually causes it. In order to diagnose it, the baby should be at least a week old. The baby should also be gaining well with breast feeding alone, having lots of bowel movements with the passing of clean urine. In this type of setting, the baby has what is referred to as breast milk jaundice.
On occasion, infections of the urine or an under functioning of the baby’s thyroid gland, as well as other rare illnesses that may cause the same types of problems breast milk jaundice will peak at 10 - 21 days, although it can last for 2 - 3 months.
Contrary to what you may think, breast milk jaundice is normal. Rarely, if at all ever, does breastfeeding need to be stopped for even a brief period of time. If the baby is doing well on breast milk, there is no reason at all to stop or supplement with a lactation aid.
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