Breastfeeding

Baby and breast are the perfect feeding team!

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 126 to 149 of about 5702.
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Bri - 22 days ago.
christina-ann - Depending on the baby's age water can be very very very dangerous for them. Their bodies just don't absorb water the same way. Breastmilk already has enough water in it plus the nutrients baby needs. Formula is mixed with water but if you mix too much then they can have a water overload. I remember reading about the lady in Florida that took her baby to the ER and didn't know what was wrong. Come to find out because of the economy she was watering down the formula and the water was poisoning her baby. She had no idea that it could happen but I believe her baby died from it. Scary thought! If your baby is over six months then a little water or watered down juice can suppliment a little bit but honestly I would try to build your supply some how. I know herbs didn't work very well for me but fermented oatmeal doubled how much I was pumping at work. Pumping sucks but it's well worth it. If you can build your supply great but if you really need more and your body just isn't cutting it then adding some formula isn't the end of the world. I usually say avoid it at all cost but in the end you need to fill baby's tummy. Good Luck!

Bri - 22 days ago.
SydneeMay2009 - We had a terrible time. My son was never a big eater so to get him to breastfeed and eat was horrible. He hated cereal too, even combined with fruit. He's turning two on Wednesday and I still have a hard time getting him to eat fruit, loves veggies though so I guess that's a plus. But anyways, some babies just are ready later. I didn't have any solids until I was over a year. Just keep trying and eventually she'll get it.

missmojo - 22 days ago.
christina-ann: DON'T water down your breast milk, this will not give your baby the nutrients he/she needs. instead, i have added a formula mixture (one scoop per 3 oz) to an equal amount of breast milk and she drinks it ok. (it took some getting used to). ALSO-was researching and found it funny that some produce more milk on one side than the other. I have this problem. Does anyone know how to equal them out?

toveandbrody - 22 days ago.
Just read in What Every Parent Should Know About Immunizations that breast milk kills influenza even when the mother does NOT have serum immunity!!..how cool is that, so glad I'm still breast feeding.

gladek - 22 days ago.
christina-ann- are you exclusively pumping? If so, have you tried a different pump, drinking/eating more, fenugeek, etc? Or just pumping/feeding more often? I would not add water to your milk! If you are also direct nursing, just let her nurse as often as possible for a couple days, and that should help you out. Have you talked to a lac. consultant?

christina-ann - 22 days ago.
hi.. sometimes i cant produce enough milk (im pumping) .. like, ill only be able to pump 2 ounces when she usually drinks about 3 - 3.5 .. i waswondering if it would be okay to add a small amount of water to it. or would it be better if i supplimented with a small amount of formla, after she drinks what i give her, if shes still hungry... help mee! I cant stand not being able to give her what she needs, all the time!

Suzm - 23 days ago.
phatbaby-- they do outgrow it - or at least mine did. My LO was so attached to me the first 4 months and wouldn't even take a bottle... now at 8 months, she is not even nursing that much anymore because she is so distracted by the world around her...even in a quiet dark room she eats for a minute and then has to sit up and look all around and grab things. I always said I would let her lead the way, but I am so missing those long days of nursing - never thought I would say that!

SydneeMay2009 - 23 days ago.
Did any of you with ebf babies have a hard time starting solids? We started my LO on Sat. which was about 6 months 3 weeks old. She likes it okay and eats fine and I am only giving her a few teaspoons once a day, but since we started she has been very cranky, not sleeping well, etc. Wondering of it could be due to solids??? I don't think it is an allergic reaction or anything - she has no other symptoms/problems.

emmalouliz - 23 days ago.
haha yeah I remember that one! Poor baby girl has been quite a stinker this week. She had her first poody diaper since Saturday which I know can be normal but those farts I swear could knock out a horse. Thank goodness today she got some relief. Now to conquer the breath issue!

Bri - 23 days ago.
emmalouliz - That reminds me of the Simpsons. I don't know if you ever watched it but during one Lisa and Bart found out that Bart was in a commerial for 'Baby Stink Breath'. HAHA! Some babies can get this, it's only natural with as much milk they are drinking. You can start rubbing the gums with a wet towel or a finger gum brush. But, really it happens. I don't know if there is actually a product out there for it? I doubt it since they really shouldn't be having anything but milk at that point.

emmalouliz - 23 days ago.
phatbaby my LO was going through that and always wanted the boob and would fall asleep there. I kept a pacifier in my hand and would trick her by taking the boob away as she started to nod off and give her the pacifier while I let her stay close to me until she was fully asleep. Seems to have worked so far. My question for everyone else is this: my baby is EBF and 10 weeks old. Her breath is starting to get a little funky like sour milk. Any remedies for this?

hchina - 23 days ago.
phatbaby57- ha ha yeah he seems a bit of a drama boy:)....maybe you can try replacing ur boobs with sthing else, like a blanket or other soothing tool., esp if ur boobs are sore again that can be no fun.

Bri - 23 days ago.
felicia marie - My son was 9months and I thought it was going to be bad. It was actually really light. a lot lighter then it normally was. It never went back to being heavy. I think it depends on the person but don't expect it to be horrible or easy. Just think it'll be normal.

phatbaby57 - Sorry, I don't have any options for you. My son never took a paci. He did however have a blanket that he'd suck on the tag. Is there an item that he really likes that you could use instead of you? My son held his blanket while nursing and then would suck on it after he was done. Made for a wonderful smelling blanket but hey at least it wasn't me and it could be washed. He's now 2yrs old and still sucks on the blanket while he goes to bed. I love it. I'm thankful he's not a little toddler walking around with a paci sticking out of his mouth. Yuck! He has the blanket with him most of the time or it's in my bag. But at night he cuddles it and is the best sleeper on the block. HAHA!

phatbaby57 - 23 days ago.
do babies out grow using you as a human pacifer? if not how do i break it? we waited until he was about 2 months to introduce a paci and it took him about 4 to 6 weeks to really get it but just this week he is refusing it again and wanting boob. he's not really eating so i know its not hunger. i didn't mind it when he was younger. i knew he was just building my supply and i have an awesome supply b/c of it. i just don't know the reason now and he is doing it so often my nipples are wanting to get sore again. i feel like i have a 4 and a half month newborn!

felicia marie - 23 days ago.
How long have you been EBF w/out getting your AF? My daughter will be 1 in 2 weeks and I still have not gotten my AF!!! woohoo!! I'm nervous about how severe it'll be with it does come :/

phatbaby57 - 24 days ago.
hchina-my guy makes straining noises. he has since the beginning. i asked the ped. about it and she said some babies just have a flair for the drama. teeheehe maybe he'll be a famous actor one day and fly me around the world!

lilli1317 - 24 days ago.
I never supplemented with formula during the dips around AF time. I noticed that even though I was pumping less in one sitting than I normally did, each time I would pump I would consistently get at least an ounce so I tried to add in more pumps to get the amount I needed (still often dipped into freezer supply and it was during these times that I depleted my supply during the first year). Pumping more sucked though especially feeling crappy because of period coming. Gotta tell you, those were the WORST times! Putting in sooo much work to get what the baby needed. Gotta pull through though!

Suzm - 24 days ago.
Ladies -- thank you all for the advice. This board has been amazing for me over the past few months. I am going to go with the flow, and be happy that I was able to ebf for so long while working full time, and now that she is 8 months pump and nurse while at home, drop the pumping at work, and hope that my milk stays for as long as she wants it.

hchina - 24 days ago.
hey does any one elses bub make a straining noise when they poo?? his poo is always soft but he seems so uncomfortable when he strains...

hchina - 24 days ago.
newmommy-stick with it, i gave up the 6th week and regretted it so much i hv started again and bubs is 4 months!!! its true it does get better, i was experiencing excruciating pain...the latch is so important dont let bubs munch. goodluck

hchina - 24 days ago.
missmojo- there are these nipple shield/cups that catch your milk if you have a letdown, similar to the pads but they are hard and sit in your top, have u heard of them?avent sells them i think. i havent tried them, curious to know if this may help the leaking problem...

missmojo - 24 days ago.
my nipples were the same way around week 2 no matter how much lanolin i used. they bled and it would sometimes get in the milk and i would have to discard it. This got better by week 3 so hopefully they'll toughen up for you! Anyone have advice on that leaking issue?

Bri - 24 days ago.
Even with the best latch sometimes nipples are just really darn sore. Some women are more sensitive then others. For healing of course there is lanolin but also express some milk onto them and let them air dry. The milk will help moisterize and heal. Give it time. I always say the first three months are the worst. You are feeding every couple of hours and it hurts like heck for some. It will get better as they toughen up. It should start to get better soon. Keep it up! It's well worth it.

michelles - 24 days ago.
newmommy, make sure your latch is right. if you get your latch right then your nipples will stop being sore. make sure that the baby's lips are splayed like fish lips. when latching on point the nipple towards the roof of the baby's mouth so that more of the areola gets in. once you get your latch right then the soreness should stop. make sure to keep your nipples dry and cover them with lanolin, also you can dribble breastmilk on them and that helps as well. they should be feeling better in a week or so. with my first everything was fine by week 4 and i even had cracked nipples at first. with my second everything felt fine by week 2, but i made sure my latch was right from the beginning. hope some of that helps!

NewMummy! - 24 days ago.
I have a 2 week old, and my nipples became very, very sore from the first time I attempted to breast feed her. I am now pumping breast milk, and using Lanolin but my nipples are still very sore. Can ANYONE recommend a remedy pleeeeaaaase??