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What To Expect When Breastfeeding |
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Anonymous Author (October 2007) |
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Commen feeding paterns:
Allow your baby to decide when he or she needs feeding and allow how long each feed lasts. Some sleepy babys may need to be woken for breast feeds. Babies need 6-12 feeds in each 24 hour period, As some bbs will feed 2
hourly and some 4 hourly. with almost all babies having some feeds over night in the early weeks. Night feeds are important for starting and keeping your milk supply. It also stops you from having very full sore breasts in the morning.
Feeds can last up to an hour. The number of feeds per day will vary according to your baby's needs and appetite.
Preventing nipple damage:
Nipples that become cracked or grazed usually indicate that your baby is not attached to the breast properly. He may not have enough breast tissue in his mouth.
Should your nipples becomw grazed, express a little milk to lubricate the nipple before attaching bub. There are also creams and nipple shields that can help if they are extremely sore. Continue to express milk onto the nipple after each feed and air dry.
Nipple shields:
Nipple shields may be useful when you have flat or inverted nipples and despite all efforts, the baby is unable to attach to the breast. These can also help with confort when cracked or sore.
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Good attachment is vital for the sccessful use of nipple shields
Nipple shields must not be used ntil your milk has 'come in'
Nipple shields should not be used routinely when breastfeeding
If you need to use a nipple shield, ongoing advice and support from a health proffessional is necessary.
The 'Let Down'
When your nipple is stimulated either by your baby feeding or from expressing, a hormone is released which causes the milk to be released from your breast. This happens many times during a feeding and is called a 'let down' Reflex.
Some women feel a tingling in there breasts, their other breast leaks or they become thirsty when the let down occurs. Some women feel nothing and others recognise the "Let Down' reflex.
Some women feel a tingling in there breasts, their other breast leaks or they become thirsty when the let down occurs. Some women feel nothing and recognise their let down by the change in the babys suck. It changes from rapid sucks to long, slow and swallowing can be heard.
Hope these tips are found to be helpful.
