It cannot be stressed enough that breast milk is the best source of nutrition you can give your baby. A complete food source specially formulated for your baby, breast milk contains all the nutrients (there are at least 400), hormones, and antibodies your baby needs for optimal development. Despite many attempts to mimic breast milk, no formula has been successful in replicating all the benefits that breast milk provides.
As your baby grows, your breast milk will change to match your baby’s stage of development. Your breast milk is designed for your baby and your baby only – no formula can boast such claims. Aside from the brain-building, infection-fighting benefits of breast milk, breastfeeding also helps foster a special bond between you and your baby. Skin-to-skin contact, cuddling and cuddling during breastfeeding is an important part of baby’s development that is not only beneficial for the baby but also for you.
Well, we know that breastfeeding is good for you and your baby, but how do you get started?
Ideally, you should start breastfeeding your baby as soon as possible after delivery. Let your doctor know of your decision to breastfeed your baby and ample opportunities can be arranged for you to breastfeed your baby while you are still in the delivery room. This first breastfeeding session is one of the most important sessions because the baby’s fundamental reflex (the urge to suck) is strongest from birth and begins to wane as it is expected.
At this stage, your breasts are producing a substance known as colostrum that contains important antibodies that help protect your baby from infection and coat your baby’s intestines to prepare them for whole milk. Colostrum will continue to be produced for the first 3 to 5 days after delivery before the breast begins to produce mature milk.
Breastfeeding for the first time can be challenging and it’s important to get as much support as possible. If you’re not sure how to do this, ask the hospital’s lactation consultant, or a good friend or family member who has breastfed a baby before, for help. Having the right support can sometimes make the difference between mothers who persist in breastfeeding and those who eventually give up. Remember that breastfeeding is an art that will require a lot of patience and practice.
If your baby is having trouble finding or staying on your nipple, don’t panic. Remember that there are two inexperienced people in the picture, you and your baby, and you both need time to adjust to each other and develop a nursing relationship. It’s important to learn how to latch on properly, position yourself comfortably, and break the suction when needed. Make sure you have learned these three things before you leave the hospital.
A proper latch at first shouldn’t be painful. However, nursing for the first few days can cause your nipples to feel raw. This sensitivity will eventually subside, but be prepared for it to last a couple of weeks. Applying a barrier cream such as Bepanthen after each feeding can help reduce sensitivity. Because of this initial tenderness, it can be difficult to tell if the bread is coming from a poor latch. If you are not sure, check with your lactation consultant. With a proper latch, the baby’s mouth should cover most of the areola (the darkened skin).
If your baby has not latched on correctly, break the suction and start again. It is important to make sure that your baby learns to latch on correctly and not to continue to breastfeed if your baby has not latched on well. If allowed to continue, your baby will develop a bad habit of poor latching, which is not only painful for you in the long run, but makes feeding time more inefficient for your baby.
During the first few days, you should nurse frequently because the more you nurse, the faster your mature milk will come in and you will make more milk. A good practice to adopt is to breastfeed for 10 to 15 minutes per breast at least 8 to 10 times a day. If for some reason you are unable to breastfeed your baby, you can help your breasts make more milk by applying a breast pump. One recommendation is to use an electric breast pump on the lowest setting for as long as you would be nursing your baby.
Crying in the first few days is often a sign of hunger and it is important to feed your baby before he starts crying. Sometimes this may mean waking your baby up to start nursing. You may also find that your baby falls asleep easily while you are feeding him. Babies with jaundice, especially, tend to be very lethargic and often don’t wake up to eat. They especially need to be woken up for feedings because breast milk helps them excrete bilirubin (which is the breakdown product of red blood cells that causes jaundice). A good guide to follow is to wake your baby if four hours have passed since the last feeding.