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Essential Tips for Getting on the Road to Breastfeeding Success |
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by jenlemen  (December 2006) (rank 9th) |
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Sometimes the first few days make all the difference in the world when it comes to breastfeeding. Here are a few suggestions for getting started:
- Prepare before baby. At your next prenatal appointment, ask your caregiver to look at your nipples to screen for any potential problems. Your doctor will give you tips on how to prepare your breasts for nursing success, depending on the nature of your situation.
- Start early. Your chances of nursing successfully improve dramatically when you and your baby have skin-to-skin contact within an hour of birth. Get a baby to latch on properly in the first hour and your odds improve even more. Ask your caregiver to help you nurse the baby as soon as possible after delivery.
- Maintain skin-to-skin contact. In the first few hours after birth, hold your baby as much as possible, if your energy levels allow. Let your baby linger at the breast, and enjoy just being close. Skin-to-skin contact is very helpful in stimulating milk production as well as helping you and baby bond.
- Keep trying every couple of hours. Even if baby is sleepy and not super interested, keep bringing him to the breast. You'll know your baby has a good latch when you can see both lips flanged out with the tongue extending beyond the lower lip. It's not unusual to have to try seven or eight times (even more!) to get the latch right. Baby needs time to learn how to get on the breast properly, so don't worry if you have to take her off to try, try again.
- Wake the baby up at night. Your newborn will be super sleepy--especially in the first few days after birth--but do your best to bring her to the breast every couple of hours--even at night. I find that this is one key piece of advice that makes a difference for women in my doula practice.
- Call in the professionals. If your hospital offers visits from a lactation consultant, get your name on the list asap. Sometimes you need an extra pair of hands (and eyes!) to make sure your positioning is just right. Breastfeeding support groups and trained nurses are also valuable resources for mothers who wish to nurse. Your local experts will know when you need to bring in the backup measures--like electric breastpumps.
- Take care of your breasts. It's worth it to make a baby latch and re-latch over and over again in order to avoid sore nipples. Air dry your nipples between feedings, use gel packs or baby safe lotions to soothe sore breasts. You can also dab a little breast milk on the breast to promote healing after each feeding. A little maintenance goes a long way to help you avoid any pain that might interfere with a healthy start.
- Be persistent. Some babies need a lot of coaching, coaxing and downright bossiness from the mom in order to take to the breast. Don't give up. Continue to nurse your baby often (8-12 feedings in a 24 hour period is not too much) until your nursing patterns are established.
- Avoid bottles, nipples and pacifiers in the early days. While this isn't always the case, some babies can become confused between the mechanics of nursing at the breast and the process of extracting milk from a bottle. Best to use alternate feeding strategies--like syringe, tube or cup feeding--until the nursing is established.
- Solicit as much encouragement as possible. You can never hear enough kind, positive words when you are new to nursing! Surround yourself with women who nursed successfully and felt positively about their experiences.
- Keep your feet up. Milk production is aided by rest, good nutrition, relaxation and the proximity of the baby. Give in to your new 24/7 nursing routine, and make your nursing station a place to relax and recharge. It will make a difference.
- Don't give up. Most problems with nursing are resolved in a matter of days. Both you and baby need to learn the rhythms of breastfeeding together. This takes time and much patience! Breastmilk is hands down the best nutrition for babies. It's worth it to do everything in your power to hang in there and keep trying until things come together. While some babies can establish the nursing relationship in hours or days, others need weeks. Give yourself the time you need to establish a solid nursing relationship.
One word about flat or inverted nipples--while some women will need the help of nipple shields to get started, in my experience it's best to avoid those aids whenever possible and try natural methods for drawing out the breast. Simply rolling your nipple between your fingers to get it to protrude or using a hand pump to draw the nipple out may be all you need to get the baby on to nurse.
What worked for you? Please add your own personal tips for breastfeeding success in the comments below.
