Breastfeeding is not rocket science. If poodles, panthers, and porpoises can do it, so can you.
But in modern society, breastfeeding is becoming a lost art. Many new mothers don’t have experienced mothers of their own to ask. Even today’s generation of grandmothers is ill-informed about the ins and outs of breastfeeding. If you have a male doctor, you may have some book learning, but wouldn’t you rather have the information of a female doctor who has successfully breastfed four children of her own?
Here are 5 tips for successful breastfeeding.
1. Stop worrying and relax. One of the biggest mistakes new moms make is worrying too much about breastfeeding. Her body knows what it is doing, as does her baby. And unlike bottle feeding, there is no preparation. Just put the baby on your chest and start. For the most part, she will learn as she goes.
2. Breastfeed early and often. Think of it her way: what would you do if you were a mother poodle with a litter of puppies? After delivery, she would lie down, rest as much as possible, eat when she was hungry, and let her pups nurse as they wished. You may only get up to go to the bathroom, have a drink, or eat something. Perhaps human mothers should do the same. As soon as her baby is born, right after you’ve counted all her fingers and toes, put her baby on her chest to get things going. She will have very little milk at this point, basically just colostrum, a nutrient-rich, high-calorie liquid, the perfect first food for her newborn. Breastfeeding your baby will stimulate the production of a good milk supply that will arrive in a few days. It is normal for your baby to lose a little weight until her milk comes in. As long as her baby is healthy, she just sit back and read tip #1 again.
3. Don’t be a human pacifier. While frequent nursing will encourage your body to produce a good supply of milk, if you nurse too often your breasts may become sore from the suction and friction. Some babies love to suck and will continue to do so forever. While it’s true that breastfed babies require more frequent feedings than bottle-fed babies, every 2-3 hours is usually enough. Occasionally a baby will want to nurse every hour and a half, which is perfectly fine once in a while, but no mother can keep it up for long. Also, it doesn’t take an hour to empty a breast. Ten minutes per side is enough. If she is nursing more than 20 minutes every 2 or 3 hours, her son is using it as a human pacifier. Only you can stop it.
4. For tender breasts, try a hot shower. If your breasts are swollen and your baby is still asleep, wake her up to breastfeed if you wish. (However, if this occurs at night, she might like to count her blessings and let her sleep). If your baby isn’t good at deflating her breasts, she can try standing up in a hot shower. The hot water running over her breasts will often trigger a letdown reflex, similar to the one that stimulates suckling. Not only will the warmth feel good, but as the milk runs out, the pressure will be relieved (and it won’t even spill on your clothes). Another option is to express milk from her breasts and store her milk for later use, such as when she wants to hire a babysitter and have a night out with her husband.
5. If necessary, combine breastfeeding and bottle feeding. There is no harm in combining breastfeeding and bottle feeding. Of course, there’s a chance that your baby won’t like infant formula or won’t tolerate it as well as breast milk (another reason to store or freeze any extra milk you may have). Some babies don’t like the feel or shape of a rubber nipple; try different brands of nipples if this concerns you. Your baby may also prefer the bottle. Some babies seem to like the faster flow of milk from the bottle, and others may prefer the taste of formula. Breastfeed your baby when she can, and otherwise don’t worry if your baby needs to be bottle-fed while you’re at work or if she’s too tired to get up every night.
Mothers often worry about their milk supply, the size of their nipple, or their baby’s ability to suckle. Most of the time, for at least 95% of mothers, these concerns are not really a problem. If you have a problem, ask someone who has breastfed her children for advice. If that fails, see your doctor.
Copyright 2010 Cynthia J. Koelker, MD