Breastfeeding- Babies forum

For the best nutrition, breastmilk is the best food to feed a baby. It is made specifically to meet the nutritional needs of babies. Human breastmilk changes as the baby grows to offer the best nutrients for the baby. It has over 1000 components - many of these have not been duplicated in infant formula.

Over the past 25 years, research has continued to show that breastmilk is better than infant formula. In fact, more studies are released each year showing that there are health risks to the baby and the mother when they do not breastfeed.

Infant formula should be seen as a `safety net` for babies who cannot breastfeed and not as an equal replacement.

Many common illnesses, such as colds, flu, skin infections or diarrhea, cannot be passed through breast milk. In fact, if a mother has an illness, her breast milk will contain antibodies to it that will help protect her baby from those same illnesses.

Baby and Breast- A Perfect Feeding Team

Knowing what to expect and how to deal with setbacks in breastfeeding can help ease the adjustment that you and your newborn will go through as you take on breastfeeding. Nursing comes naturally but it does take a while for the mom and baby to get in sync with one another.

How to breastfeed:

Get into a comfortable position. Whatever position is comfortable for you and for the baby is a good position to use.

Position your baby facing your nipple.

Support your breast with your free hand. Keep your fingers off your areola, which the baby needs to grasp.

Gently tickle the baby's lips with your nipple until the mouth is opened wide. Then, move your breast closer.

Don't stuff the nipple into an unwilling mouth. Let the baby take the initiative.

Make sure the baby latches on to the nipple and areola. Sucking on just the nipple will not compress the milk glands. It will also cause soreness and cracking.

If your breast is blocking your baby's nose, lightly depress the breast with your finger. Be careful not to loosen your baby's grasp of the areola.

If the baby has a strong steady rhythmic motion that is visible in the cheek, then most likely the baby is attached and sucking well.

When finished or repositioning the breast, don't yank your breast out of the baby's mouth. This will cause injury to the nipple.

Don't be tempted to skip or skimp on feedings because of pain. The less the baby eats, the worse the pain will be.

Brochure downloads:

Ten Steps to Support Parents` Choice to Breastfeed Their Baby (pdf)
101 reasons to Breastfeed Your Child (pdf)

Breastfeeding Basics

* Start as soon as possible after birth
* Be patient and calm
* Don't try to feed a screaming baby
* Ask for help when you need it

Breastfeeding is a learned skill that becomes easier over time. You are more likely to succeed with long-term breastfeeding by having a plan, becoming familiar with basic techniques, learning how to handle minor physical problems and getting help quickly when you need it.

How the Baby is Preparing for Breastfeeding

Before they are born, babies begin learning important skills that will help them breastfeed. Teaching mothers about these skills can increase their confidence in the baby`s ability to nurse at birth.

By the time a mother is 11 weeks (almost 3 months) pregnant, her baby has learned to swallow. Babies swallow amniotic fluid in the uterus.
By the time a mother is 24 weeks (6 months) pregnant, her baby has learned to suck. Babies spend a lot of time with their hands close to their mouth before birth. Babies are often seen sucking on their thumb, fingers or hands during an ultrasound exam.
By the time a mother is 32 weeks (8 months) pregnant, her baby has learned to root for the breast. The baby will turn its head if touched on the cheek and open its mouth if the bottom lip is tickled. By this time the baby can also suck and swallow in a coordinated way.
By the time a mother is 37 weeks (9 months) pregnant, her baby has learned to coordinate sucking, swallowing and breathing so it can do all three when breastfeeding after birth. Babies practice shallow breathing before birth using amniotic fluid.

Breastfeeding Tips

Breastfeed your baby on demand rather than setting a strict schedule, especially in the first few months.
Taking care of yourself will also help you to establish your milk supply. Eat right and get rest when you are able.
Avoid bottle-feeding your baby breast milk until breastfeeding and milk supply are well-established, which is usually about 4 to 6 weeks. This helps build your milk supply. Not using bottles also helps prevent your baby from developing nipple confusion, which is a preference for an artificial nipple over the breast.
Look for signs that your baby is getting enough milk, such as eagerness to eat and feeding sessions that last at least 15 to 25 minutes. By 6 days of age, your baby should need about 6 to 8 diaper changes, settle well after feeding and usually awaken on his or her own to feed every 1 to 3 hours. Talk to your doctor if you have any concerns.
Help clear blocked milk ducts by using warm compresses and massaging your breasts before and during feedings. Also, breastfeed more frequently and in different positions. Offer your baby the affected breast first at each feeding.
You can help relieve the pain from sore or cracked nipples with drops of expressed breast milk or lanolin creams.

The color of your breastmilk

The first milk is called `colostrum.' Colostrum is a clear, yellowish fluid. It is rich in protein, nutrients and antibodies, which protect the baby from infection. By starting to nurse the baby right after birth, the baby will benefit from the colostrum and the `mature milk` will come in sooner. Colostrum changes to `mature milk` sometime in the first 1 to 7 days.

`Mature` breastmilk may look blue in color. The milk that comes out first during a feeding (foremilk) is thinner and watery. The milk toward the end of a feeding (hindmilk) looks thicker. It is richer and higher in fat. If a woman pumps her milk, the fat (or `cream`) will separate easily and rise to the top.

Comments: Breastfeeding

Comments 1 to 24 of about 3463.
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softkitty - 1 hours ago.
Oh dear, my son is very gassy. We laugh because each time he stretches he passes gas. I can't imagine what it is that I eat. I'm thinking about buying mylicon, it's suppose to cut down on babies gas. I also try and drink tea or warm water before feeding him so the gas doesn't transfer over. Looks like I have another question for the pediatrician.

littlecavalier - 7 hours ago.
softkitty: It's also possible that he is getting fussy from something you are eating. Some babies will nurse because they are gassy, they can't tell the difference between hunger pains and gas pains so they will nurse and then fuss because their tummy still hurts. If it continues or if you notice that he has a lot of gas you might want to watch your diet and see if it's something you're eating. My son takes a pacifier too and I almost prefer it to his thumb because I will be able to take it away when he gets a little older. It has also made my life so much easier as when he is fussy and I can't get him down for a nap right away it buys me some time. I do limit it to only in those instances while he's awake and then I give it to him when it's bedtime. I haven't decided yet when I will wean him from it.... I guess I'll figure that out as it goes.

softkitty - 14 hours ago.
Thanxs littlecavalier. It's unfortunate that I had to introduce my son to a pacifier just two days after his birth. The nurses and drs encouraged me to do it saying my nipples will thank me. Also thanks for the reassurance. I didn't think I had enough milk hence the fussy baby.

littlecavalier - 15 hours ago.
softkitty: You should pump after you feed so that your baby is getting all of the milk he wants and then whatever is leftover you can pump out. If you are able to pump 7oz you definitely have a ton of milk for a two week old so I don't think you have a supply issue at all. It could be that he just likes the act of nursing and is fussy afterwards because he still wants something to suck on. You could try introducing a pacifier and see if that settles him.

3rdtimer - 16 hours ago.
Starby I have a friend whose third daughter also had a high palate. She'd successfully breastfed her first two babies and has (sorry but this is the truth!) massive breasts and heaps of milk so it was all the more frustrating for her because it was not going well. She was always in pain because the latch was always awkward due to the shape of her daughter's palate. It got a bit better as time went on but she ended up supplementing with bottles quite early on to give her nipples a break and weaning at about 8 months, quite a bit earlier than her other two. Sorry it's not better news!

softkitty - 17 hours ago.
Hey ladies, I have another pumping question. How often can I pump? My son is 2 weeks old and doesn't seem to be satisfied. When I pump I get 7oz (combined).

starby - 19 hours ago.
On our recent visit to the lactation consutant, we were told that our daughter seems to have a 'high palate' which may be one more reason that breastfeeding has been so challenging...on top of her being premie and having nipple confusion/nipple preference thanks to the hospital ignoring all my requests to avoid pacifiers and bottles initially...anyhoo, I cant seem to really find much info on high palates...anyone have experience with this? I just dont know if it is going to cause her problems in the future :( Just wondering if anyone else out there has run into this issue.

babyboysmama - 1 days ago.
marie, I was feeling exactly the same way last night, Mayson would suck then stop after a few sucks then look around, then start again...

mommyxs3 - 1 days ago.
THANKS YOU GUYS! The information is really helpful. I will definitely take as much time as I can and even just go back part time at first if possible. I hate leaving my little one but I know falling behind on my bills will stress me too and thats not good for me, baby, or bf. So, we'll do our best. I really appreciate your help!

Bri - 1 days ago.
shannon13 - That is what I meant. =P The first month all babies do is sleep. At least for mine. Then he started waking up and wanting actual attention. He wanted to be entertained but he couldn't do it himself. Breastfeeding is definately harder the first month but once you get the hang of it it gets easier.

marie - 1 days ago.
Another day another question! Has anyone experienced their babies not being settled when nursing, and if so for how long, and what did you do?In the last few weeks, and especially the last week I notice my daughter will start nursing, seems like her latch is ok, but then she will start fidgeting, latching and unlatching, but not a good latch, and seems like she really isn't getting anything. I am worried that she is getting lazy with nursing because I have introduced the bottle the last couple weeks to give her some expressed milk. She is 9 wks old. Add this to her low weight gain and I am just concerned she is not even getting the hindmilk most of the time.

shannon13 - 1 days ago.
I agree with Bri--I went back at 2 months and didn't realize that my supply could very seriously dip. I pumped 3 times per day and over the course of the next two months my supply very slowly went down (slow enough I didn't think too much of it until I found out that he didn't gain weight between 4 and 6 months and I thought back to the amount that I initially pumped and realized that I had slowly gone way down!) I think a combination of the mini pill and/or my IUD plus pumping 3X per day at work really had an effect on me. So watch carefully, maybe keep an initial log and look back every once in awhile to make sure you are maintaining or increasing supply. And I don't know if Bri meant breastfeeding is hardest in the 2nd and 3rd month or babies in general. If babies in general, I totally agree. My baby was by far the most difficult in his 3rd and 4th months (part of it was reflux, but I think it happens to a lot of babies). Good luck--take all the time off you can now!

mommyxs3 - 1 days ago.
Thanks Bri! Once she is a little older I can put her in daycare and there is one just down the road from me that is quite nice. I would love to put her there and feed during my lunch. Great idea! Thanks for the encouragement. :)

Bri - 1 days ago.
mommyxs3 - WA state gives us three months and I took every second of it. I was sad to go back to work. But, my daycare is around the block and I get to feed him during my lunch. I have been very successful in doing it and so has many women on this site. I feed before going to work, pump at 9, feed at noon and pump again at 3. The nice thing about you doing it so early is that your supply hasn't leveled off yet. You can fake your boobs into thinking they need a lot more then what you really need. That way you can stock up for emergencies. Once you get into a routine it isn't too hard....just a pain in the a**! HAHA! My son is almost 9months. I plan on pumping until a year. After that I will continue to feed at home in the mornings and evenings since he will be on three meals a day and won't need the extra calories. It will just be for comfort. I think we'll wean all the way at around 18months. Good Luck! Sorry you have to go back so soon. The first month isn't the hardest part it's the second two. I'd say, take off as long as possible but if you have to go back, then you do.

manda21 - 1 days ago.
I dont count my calories, but I dont feel like I eat that much. I dont feel like I ate that much when I was pregnant. I think I will start paying more attention to that.

mommyxs3 - 1 days ago.
Hi Ladies! I wanted to ask about bf and going back to work. I just found out that I will not be able to bring my daughter with me for the first month or so after I go back and I'm wondering how early you ladies have went back to work and have been successful at pumping (at work) and bf when you're home. I know it's early but as soon as the Dr. releases me to return to work, I have to. So, it could be as early as 4 weeks. My mom will be keeping my daughter so I'm not worried about her care...just about being successful at bf. My boss is flexible and will give me time but our finances can't afford for me to take to much. Any suggestions? I do have a private place to pump and have told my boss I will be doing so several times a day. He is ok with that. He really is fair.

Traviesa - 1 days ago.
i feel like I'm not eating 2000 calories a day...with me not eating eggs/dairy/soy/nuts...I eat the same thing ...oatmeal...soup...spinach...rice...chicken..some fruit..so I don't want to get rail thin...the only thing my belly needs to be worked on

MonikaOH - 1 days ago.
manda21 I was told I can excercise as long as I keep min 2000 calories a day

Traviesa - 1 days ago.
manda I stopped working out...I was doing Turbo Jam..and losing weight quick..so I stopped...i didn't want to chance it..

babyboysmama - 1 days ago.
MilMom, last week I had a department meeting at a hotel for the day, well I didn't bring my pump and I was very uncomfortable as well....that night I was OVERFLOWING i did feel like my supply dip a bit for a few days, but I still had enough to keep my son satisfied (i did pull one feeding from milk in the freezer) My supply seems right back up to normal now though.

MilMom2Be - 2 days ago.
manda21~ As long as your supply has not dipped yet, I think you are ok. If you begin to notice a decrease it may be time to let up on the exercise. So basically a try it and see approach. If you catch a decrease early on and relax your exercise routine your supply should come back up, so you won't be risking your ability to give your baby the best!

MilMom2Be - 2 days ago.
So me, being a genius, forgot to grab my pump! So for the last several hours of my shift I have been VERY uncomfortable! I just hope my supply won't be effected....

manda21 - 2 days ago.
Does anyone work out daily and breastfeed? I have been working out everyday for two months now, but as of lately I have really been pushing myself on my run to burn some extra calories. I am 120 now, but I am worried if i lose too much weight it will affect my breastmilk?? However, I still have 5-10 more lbs to my pre pregnancy weight ( I want to fit into my prepregnancy pants)...is that too low of a weight for breastfeeding?? I dont want to affect my milk supply and I am not short in height??? I want to breastfeed for the enitre first year!!

littlecavalier - 2 days ago.
Marie: It is likely that your other babies gained faster because of the extra calories in formula whereas breastmilk has exactly what the baby needs. My son has always been a slow gainer. He is in the 75th percentile for height and at nine months was in between the 5th and 10th percentile only weighing 17lbs 4oz. My husband is tall and thin and has a great metabolim so I'm guessing that is part of the reason why. As long as he is meeting developmental milestones and isn't lethargic I wouldn't worry. You can also take him in for weight checks if you want to keep a close eye on it, that might make you more crazy though.

luvbeingamom - 2 days ago.
apil- That doesn't sound so odd. Breast milk digests faster so after 90min or so they are hungry again. No matter how much they eat. Some bf babies will eat every 2 hours for months, others will spread out their feedings as they get older. I don't think there really is a way to get them to go longer without supplimenting or giving them solids and generally 2 months is way to young for that.