These 10 Valuable Tips will help more successful and ......These 10 Valuable Tips will help make...

These 10 Valuable Tips will help make your breastfeeding experience

more successful and enjoyable.

10 Valuable Tips for

Successful Breastfeeding

10 Valuable Tips for

Successful Breastfeeding

adph.org/perinatal

Today, most mothers are choosing to breastfeed their babies. As more Alabama families understand just how much of a difference breastfeeding makes to the health of both the mother and her baby, more families are supporting mothers to breastfeed longer.

Here are 10 Valuable Tips for Successful Breastfeeding:

1. Breastfeed Right After Birth• Cuddleyourbabyonyourchesttowelcomehim/herintotheworld

• Skin-to-skinpromotesmilkproductionandbaby’sfeedingreflexesaretriggered

• Babywillstartlooking/rootingforthebreastandmorebreastmilkwillbemade

• Babiesareoftenmorealertandinterestedinfeedinginthefirsthourfollowingbirth

• Remainingskin-to-skinwillhelpbabyregulatebodytemperature,bloodsugar,andreducestress

• Forcaesareanbirths,themotherorfathercanholdthebabyskin-to-skinuntilthebabycanenjoyhis/herfirstfeed

How to Feed Your Baby

• Lookforbaby’searlysignsofwantingtofeed,suchasrooting,lickinglips,and/orputtinghandsinthemouth.Cryingisalatehungercue

• Sitorliedowncomfortably,ifyouareuncomfortablethenbabywillsenseandalsobeuncomfortable

• Relaxyourshouldersandbringbabytoyourbreastratherthanyourbreasttobaby

• Holdbabyclose,nosetonippleandchintobreast.Supportbaby’sneckandshouldersfirmlywithoutpushingthebackofbaby’sheadasthisoftenmakesthebabypushawayfromthebreast

• Supportyourbreastbyholdingfourfingersunderneath,awayfromtheareola(darkarea),withyourthumbontop.Expressafewdropsofmilktoawakenbaby’ssenseoftasteandsmell

• Restbaby’schinonthebreast,nosetonippleuntilhis/hermouthopensasbigasayawnandhis/herheadmovesbacktotakeabigmouthfulofthebreast.Youcanalsogentlytouchbaby’slipsuntilthemouthopens very wide

• Whenbabyfeelsyournipplewithhis/hertongue,thelipswillcloseovertheareolaandnippleandformaseal;bothlipsshouldberolledoutwards.Youwillfeelbabysucklinggentlyatfirstandthendeeplyandrhythmically, one or two sucks per swallow, with little pauses to rest

• Whenbabycomesoffthebreastorisnolongersucklingactively,burpandoffertheotherbreast

• Ifyouneedtotakebabyoffthebreast,gentlyplaceafingerinthecornerofhis/hermouthuntilyoubreakthe suction

There are many breastfeeding positions; find the one that is most comfortable for you and your baby. If you have had a caesarean birth, you may need help to position yourself and your baby comfortably. Ask for help from nurses, your doctor, and/or a lactation counselor or consultant.

2. Getting Started• ThefirstmilkiscalledColostrum,afluidrichinvitamins,protein,andimmunefactorstoprotectyour

baby

• Anewborn’sstomachisverysmallandcannotholdalargeamountofmilk–thisiswhy“firstmilk”isveryconcentrated and why babies want to feed often in the beginning

• Baby’sstomachat1dayoflifeisaboutthesizeofamarble,day3-5aboutthesizeofagolfball,andday7-10aboutthesizeofatennisball

• Learnhowtoexpressyourmilkbyhandsothatyoucanattractbaby’sattentiontohelpstartafeedingand to relieve breast fullness, if needed

• Attheendofafeed,expressafewmoredropsofmilkandgentlyrubintoyournippletohelppreventdrying and cracking

• Feedingbabyoftenwillhelpincreasemilksupply.Themorebabybreastfeeds–themoremilkyouwillproduce–“SupplyandDemand”

Watch the Baby not the Clock

• Insteadoftimingfeedsbytheclock,lookforbaby’searlysignsofwantingtofeed(rooting,lickinglips,puttinghandtothemouth)

• Babiesneedtoeatofteninthefirstweeks–8ormoretimesin24hours

• Nightfeedsareimportanttoestablishbreastfeedingandtomaintainmilkproduction

Theusualpatternis:feedbabyononebreastuntilhe/shestopssuckling,burp,changediaper,andthenoffertheotherbreast.Thenexttimeyoubreastfeed,startwiththebreastonwhichhe/shefinishedthelasttime. Somebabiespreferseveral“shortcourses”;otherspreferonelongfeeding.Donotrushbaby–takeyourtime.

Signs Your Baby is Getting Enough Breast Milk:

• Weightgainisaverygoodsignthatbabyisbreastfeedingwell

• Bytwoweeksofage,babywillmostlikelyhaveregainedtheirbirthweight

• Onaverage,fiveormoreounceseachweekafterthefirsttwoweeks

• Sixormorewetdiapersadaybydaysixandfrequentbowelmovementsaregoodsignsoffeeding

3. Milk Production• Themorebabybreastfeeds,themoremilkyouproduce

• Asbabygetsolder,he/shemaybreastfeedforashortertimeorlessfrequentlyandbesatisfied

• Duringperiodsofgrowthspurts,babywillfeedmoreoftenforafewdaysinordertosatisfyan increased appetite

• Duringthesetimes,yourbreastmilkwillincreasetomeetbaby’sneeds

4. The Complete Food• ResearchshowsthatbreastmilkissoimportantthatitistheONLYfoodordrinkyourbabyneedsforthe

firstsixmonthsoflife

• Asbabygrowsyourmilkwillalsochangetokeepupwithbaby’sneedsandcontinuestohavejusttheright amount of nutrients

• Breastmilkcontainsantibodiesandotherimmunefactorsthathelpprotectagainstinfectionsanddisease–benefitsthatlastalifetime

• Beginningat6monthsofage,babiesneedtoreplenishtheirironreservesbyaddingavarietyoffoodsinaddition to breast milk

• Breastmilkisconvenient,alwaystherighttemperature,economical,andbetterfortheenvironment

5. Looking After Mom• Momshouldrestwhenbabysleeps

• Momshouldeathealthymealsanddrinkplentyoffluids

• Ifyournipplesaretender,makesurebabyislatchedproperlytoyourbreastwhenfeeding

• Supportmom’seffortsinbreastfeeding

• Allowsomebreastmilktodryonyournipples;ithaslubricatingandanti-infectiveproperties

• Ifbreastsgetswollenandpainful(engorged),coldcompressesdecreaseswelling,thengentlemassagingandwarmth(warmtowelsortakingwarmshowers)willhelpmilktoflow

• Expressingsomemilkbeforefeedingtorelievefullnessandbreastfeedfrequentlytohelpbreastsfeelmore comfortable

6. Working and Breastfeeding• Babycanhaveallthebenefitsofbreastmilkevenifyouplantogobacktoworkorschool

• Whenbreastfeedingiswellestablished,youcanexpressmilkandleaveitwiththecaregiverforfeedingsthroughout the day

• Breastmilkcanbestoredintherefrigerator(3days)orfrozen(about6months).Refrigerateorfreezebreast milk in clean bottles or bags and date them

• Warmupthebreastmilkbystandingitinhottapwaterbeforeitisused.Microwavingorstoveheatingbreast milk is not recommended

• Inquireaboutflexibilityatworktohavebreastfeedingorpumpingbreaks

7. Breastfeeding and Pregnancy• Exclusivebreastfeeding(nofoodorliquidsotherthanbreastmilkaregiventobaby)forthefirst6months

ofbaby’slifemaydelaythereturnofmenstruation,butovulationcanstilloccur,soyoushouldtalktoyourhealthcare provider about birth control methods and options

8. Thoughtful Reminders• Trytosleepwhenbabysleeps

• Donoteversleepwithbabyinthebedwithyou

• Acceptand/oraskforhelpwithhouseworkandmeals

• Invitevisitorsonlywhenyoufeelready

• Eathealthyanddrinkplentyoffluids

• Rememberthatcigarettesmokeisharmfultoyouandbaby

• Alcoholandotherdrugscanpassintobreastmilkandmayharmbaby.Consultwithamedicalprofessional about any medications or substances you use or might use that could cause harm to baby

9. Talk to Others• Keepcommunicationopen

• Connectwithotherbreastfeedingmothersforsupport

• Discussanyconcernyoumayhaveregardingbreastfeeding

• Dosomethingfuneveryday(relaxinthebathtub,takeawalkwithbaby,keepintouchwithfamilyandfriends)–donotbecomeisolated

10. Enjoy Your Baby• Holdingbabyclosestimulatesmanysenses

• Ababywhoissmiledat,talkedto,andcuddledwilldevelopasenseofsecurity

• Breastfeedingismorethansimplyprovidingnutrientsandcaloriesforphysicalgrowth–itcontributestoan intimate and special relationship

• Youandyourbabyhavetherighttobreastfeedanywhere,anytimeandtherearemanytechniquestohelpachieve this comfortably

• Askfriends,family,healthcareproviders,nurses,lactationconsultants,and/orattendabreastfeedingsupportgrouptomakeitallcometogether.Breastfeedingisbestforyouandyourbaby!

For more information about breastfeeding visit: adph.org/perinatal

Funding to produce this resource provided by a grant from the Association of State and Territorial Health Officials - Breastfeeding Support Learning Community. Project: 86-12323