Welcome to the new world of breastfeeding. Breastfeeding is a wonderful opportunity and experience for mother and baby to bond together. There are many resources available to help you learn correct breastfeeding technique. For some women, it proves to be a difficult learning process, one that takes time and patience. This post will include basic information about breastfeeding, common concerns among women who breastfeed, as well as proper breastfeeding technique. If you are still having difficulties after going through this information, call your Obstetrician. Oftentimes, there are breastfeeding classes that are offered by a trained Lactation Specialist.
Why Should I Breastfeed?
- Breastfeeding contains the perfect food for your baby’s digestive system. It contains the vitamins and minerals that a newborn requires, and all of its components. It contains lactose, protein (whey and casein), and fat. All of which are easily digested by your baby’s digestive system.
- Breast milk contains antibodies that boost your baby’s immune system and prevent him from getting sick.
- Breastfeeding is also great for mothers, too! It burns calories so mother’s can lose post-partum weight more quickly. It also helps prevent post-partum bleeding by causing the uterus to contract and return to its pre-pregnancy size.
- Breastfeeding is also beneficial for emotional development of you and your baby. The skin-to-skin contact can enhance an emotional connection, and providing complete nourishment can help a new mother feel confident in her ability to provide for her newborn.
- It has also been shown that breastfed infants need fewer sick-care visits, prescriptions and hospitalizations.
- Breast milk is easier for easier for the baby’s digestive system to digest.
How Will I Know If My Infant is Getting Enough to Eat?
- Typical infants nurse between 8 and 12 times per day during the first month. As the baby grows, he will need to eat less often.
- The baby should be seen by a pediatrician between 48 and 72 hours after birth. At that time, the baby will be weighed and it can be determined if the baby is getting the proper nutrition.
How Do I Know If My Newborn is Hungry?
- The baby will move his head side to side
- He will open his mouth
- He will stick out his tongue
- He will place his hand in a fist suck on it
- He may pucker his lips as if to suck
- He will begin nuzzling his nose to your breast
- He may display the rooting reflex. This is when the baby moves his mouth to the side when his cheek is touched.
Nipple Pain, Engorgement and Proper Positioning:
In a recent study, it was concluded that nipple pain and engorgement were correlated and were related to incorrect nipple latch-on. When the baby is incorrectly latched, it causes nipple pain as well as inefficient transfer of breast milk. Inefficient transfer of breastmilk causes breast engorgement resulting in pain.
Researchers reported that proper positioning is established when the maximal amount of the areola (the dark part of the breast) as possible is in the infant's mouth while sucking. This is the position that is recommended to prevent nipple trauma.
Promoting a Proper Latch:
There are several ways to help your infant open his mouth wide enough to promote a proper latch.
First, tickle your baby's lower lip. If the baby turns away, gently stroke his cheek that is closest to you to encourage him to turn back to toward you. Try again to tickle his bottom lip. When he opens his mouth, quickly bring him to the breast. It's important to bring the baby toward you rather than moving forward towards the baby. It may take a few attempts to coordinate the movement. If the baby gets frustrated, pause and soothe him before trying again.
What an Appropriate Latch Looks Like:
- The proper position should be that the baby's lips appear "flanged out and back." This describes an appropriate latch. If the baby's top lip is turned in or bottom lip is turned in, this describes an incorrect latch.
- The baby's cheek's should be smooth, not dimpled.
-Depending on the size of the areola, there should be no areola showing near the baby's bottom lip.
- For head position, the baby's chin and nose should be close to the breast.
- There should be no space between the baby's chin and the mother's breast.
- The baby's body should be horizontal, not angled. "Tummy to tummy" or "chest at the breast" or "chest to chest."
Here is a diagram depicting proper positioning:
Why Should I Breastfeed?
- Breastfeeding contains the perfect food for your baby’s digestive system. It contains the vitamins and minerals that a newborn requires, and all of its components. It contains lactose, protein (whey and casein), and fat. All of which are easily digested by your baby’s digestive system.
- Breast milk contains antibodies that boost your baby’s immune system and prevent him from getting sick.
- Breastfeeding is also great for mothers, too! It burns calories so mother’s can lose post-partum weight more quickly. It also helps prevent post-partum bleeding by causing the uterus to contract and return to its pre-pregnancy size.
- Breastfeeding is also beneficial for emotional development of you and your baby. The skin-to-skin contact can enhance an emotional connection, and providing complete nourishment can help a new mother feel confident in her ability to provide for her newborn.
- It has also been shown that breastfed infants need fewer sick-care visits, prescriptions and hospitalizations.
- Breast milk is easier for easier for the baby’s digestive system to digest.
How Will I Know If My Infant is Getting Enough to Eat?
- Typical infants nurse between 8 and 12 times per day during the first month. As the baby grows, he will need to eat less often.
- The baby should be seen by a pediatrician between 48 and 72 hours after birth. At that time, the baby will be weighed and it can be determined if the baby is getting the proper nutrition.
How Do I Know If My Newborn is Hungry?
- The baby will move his head side to side
- He will open his mouth
- He will stick out his tongue
- He will place his hand in a fist suck on it
- He may pucker his lips as if to suck
- He will begin nuzzling his nose to your breast
- He may display the rooting reflex. This is when the baby moves his mouth to the side when his cheek is touched.
Nipple Pain, Engorgement and Proper Positioning:
In a recent study, it was concluded that nipple pain and engorgement were correlated and were related to incorrect nipple latch-on. When the baby is incorrectly latched, it causes nipple pain as well as inefficient transfer of breast milk. Inefficient transfer of breastmilk causes breast engorgement resulting in pain.
Researchers reported that proper positioning is established when the maximal amount of the areola (the dark part of the breast) as possible is in the infant's mouth while sucking. This is the position that is recommended to prevent nipple trauma.
Promoting a Proper Latch:
There are several ways to help your infant open his mouth wide enough to promote a proper latch.
First, tickle your baby's lower lip. If the baby turns away, gently stroke his cheek that is closest to you to encourage him to turn back to toward you. Try again to tickle his bottom lip. When he opens his mouth, quickly bring him to the breast. It's important to bring the baby toward you rather than moving forward towards the baby. It may take a few attempts to coordinate the movement. If the baby gets frustrated, pause and soothe him before trying again.
What an Appropriate Latch Looks Like:
- The proper position should be that the baby's lips appear "flanged out and back." This describes an appropriate latch. If the baby's top lip is turned in or bottom lip is turned in, this describes an incorrect latch.
- The baby's cheek's should be smooth, not dimpled.
-Depending on the size of the areola, there should be no areola showing near the baby's bottom lip.
- For head position, the baby's chin and nose should be close to the breast.
- There should be no space between the baby's chin and the mother's breast.
- The baby's body should be horizontal, not angled. "Tummy to tummy" or "chest at the breast" or "chest to chest."
Here is a diagram depicting proper positioning:
The Nursing Dynamic:
- Correct nursing dynamic should be “bursts of two sucks to one swallow, or one suck to one swallow.” Babies who suck without any or few swallows may not be positioned correctly. This can be a sign of insufficient transfer of milk. The baby should suck deep and regularly. A rapid, light sucking action—flutter sucking—is wrong.” Ensuring that there is proper milk transfer will help prevent engorgement and nipple pain.
References:
http://kidshealth.org/parent/growth/feeding/feednewborn.html
http://search.proquest.com.byui.idm.oclc.org/docview/1425358857/3EC557D5EA574975PQ/6?accountid=9817
http://search.proquest.com.byui.idm.oclc.org/docview/304783612/5E8459D312D14FB6PQ/3?accountid=9817