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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
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