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

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angelag3girls - 24 days ago.
1byfaith- I never needed formula because I would pump about 2 hrs after he went to bed at night and stashed it into the freezer just incase. Not every cycle but sometimes I did feel it would help if I gave him a bottle of the expressed milk. So during the weeks your flow is good I would try and stash alittle. Like I said there are vitamins, herbs, and stuff like oatmeal that can help if you start up a few days to a week before the phantom cycle. I don't know if that means the real one is on the way or not. I aunt flow never missed a month with me after any of my kids. But I would start using protection if I was you and didn't want another child!!!!!

michelles - 24 days ago.
stella still hasn't pooped. it's been 10 days. this is drving me crazy.

1Byfaith - 24 days ago.
Oh, I forgot to ask. Does a phantom cycle mean that your real cycle is going to start back up soon??

phatbaby57 - 24 days ago.
So far I've managed to eek out enough during these times. I have a huge frozen supply so I shouldn't need to supplement with formula for a while. Plus this is the second day I've went to pick my lo up at daycare and he has only eaten a couple of ounces of his final bottle. The ladies that care for him think he is waiting on me and just eats enough to make it through. My sweet little boy loves his Mommy and taking milk straight from the tap I guess. I think I'm sending a smaller bottle for tomorrow. It'll take a little of the pressure off.

1Byfaith - 25 days ago.
Thanks you all so much. I never thought about phantom cycles. I hope I am not ovulating though cause I am not using any protection yet (that's another story though) But it does make sense. Did you all have to end up supplementing with formula during this time. I have just been trying to make it through and I do have some milk in the freezer but not a whole lot. I thought that I had been having some very very mild cramping. I hope AF is not gonna show up yet!!! Thanks again girls :0)

angelag3girls - 25 days ago.
1byfaith and phatbaby I was just about to mention phantom cycles. I think it is possible since you can ovulate while nursing too. Try eating some extra oatmeal or malt o meal or maybe even drink a beer tonight to boost you back up. Start marking it on a calender and see if thats what it is. I take a combo of Calcium plus with Magnesium and vitamin D from GNC that seems to have help with my supply while aunt flow is visiting. I never got a break so I have battled it from the beginning and I just take it all month. Some said that if you can take it after you ovulate until your cycle is almost over then it will help but thats 3 weeks outta 4 anyways and i need the extra cal so I just take it every day. Drink extra water cause if it is a phantom cycle its probably pulling in all your fluids. Oh and it could also be that your breasts are finally regulating to it might take baby a few minutes to pull down the milk and your breasts might get alittle more stubborn with the pump. This happens around the same time frame.

lilli1317 - 25 days ago.
1byfaith - Seems like you are on the exact same pumping/feeding schedule I was on. The dips always happened to me before AF so maybe like phatbaby said its phantom cycles. Try not to stress because we all know that makes it worse! I always got through by thinking if I am putting that much work into maintaining my supply then there is just no way it will go away, that would just be too unfair. Some women dont have to do anything! Sure enough, it always came back. My problem was never with maintaining (although there were plenty dips), but I just never could increase supply with pumping in the later months.

phatbaby57 - 25 days ago.
1byfaith-i'm 19 weeks and am starting to experience this as well this week. i did four weeks ago too. i'm beginning to wonder if i'm having 'phantom' cycles. does anyone know if this is even possible? I've had no spotting or bleeding just a dip in supply for about a week and maybe a little cramping like i'm going to start and then nothing since my lo's birth. last time my supply came right back after a week.

1Byfaith - 25 days ago.
I have an issue. I have been EBF'ing Brandon since birth and he is 14 weeks now. I have NEVER supplemented with formula and I bf him frequently. I work part-time and when @ work I pump every 3 hrs on the dot. On my days off and when I am at home I nurse on demand. I even get up @ 2am and pump cause he sleeps til 4 or 5 am after going to bed around 930-10pm. Well, my issue is that I think I am noticing a decrease in supply and I have not had any issues before now. Yesterday Brandon was pulling at the nip like 'this thing is empty' and getting really frustrated. When I got up at 1am to pump I only got 2 oz from both when I usually get 4-5 oz??? I have not started my period yet or anything so what could be wrong???

missmojo - 25 days ago.
LEAKING ISSUE! I just started back at classes, which run 4.5 hours per night and i have such issues with leaking through my pads, i even bring a back up supply. Also, it is just ONE boob that is leaking profusely. What's with that? I plan to pump when going back to work, but worry about if an appointment runs late or something and i work for 8 hours. Any advice on that? I'm thinking about even bringing extra clothes to work, just in case! Maybe i shouldn't be complaining about OVER supply! lol.

gladek - 25 days ago.
My son went through pooping stages. Sometimes he would poop all the time, then he went for a couple months (maybe from 4-5months old about) pooping only once every 6-12 days! It always freaked me out, but the doc said it was perfectly normal for some EBF babies. Once he got older and started on solids, his pooping became more frequent, now hes back to two-three times a day.

SydneeMay2009 - 25 days ago.
It was cold and snowing today so I decided to try the 'lactation cookie recipe' and they are actually a lot better tasting then I thought they would be!! I even used splenda in place of the white sugar and applesuace for 1/2 of the butter and they were pretty good. Don't know if it will actually help supply or not, but I'll let ya know!

lilli1317 - 25 days ago.
Thats crazy how its such a large spectrum for pooping!! I wonder if its what we eat that has an effect too. My son has always been an EBF super-pooper! Like 3 times a day even now at 13 months! Daycare calls him the resident poop machine because he is always the first one they check when they smell someone.

Bri - 25 days ago.
michelles - It's perfectly normal. Breastmilk is the best thing out there! It is easily digested which means there is little bi-product. My son only pooed once a week until he started solids at 6months. I also would do the massage and bicycle trick. My doctor wasn't worried until we was moving onto a week and a half. No worries. Oh and his farts could clear a room too!....Wait, they still do. HAHA!

SydneeMay2009 - 25 days ago.
missmojo-I would try the bottle of expressed milk too. My DH started giving a nice big bottle with her vitamins mixed in right before bed and I think that it helped her start sleeping through the night, because she would get a little more than if she was nursing(when she falls asleep nursing she's done, but if he was feeding her she would still kind of sleep-eat!) I think that was all it took and now I just nurse her before bed, but she is used to sleeping through so all is well(now if we could get her out of our bed :-)

michelles - 25 days ago.
thanks babyblue, it just makes me so nervous. i called the dr and am waiting for a call back. everything i read says its normal but i still worry.

babyblue1 - 25 days ago.
michelles--same thing happened with my LO. 9 days went by, so i called the dr. She said to call back if she never went in 2 more days. Sure enough almost immediately after i got off the phone she pooped! It's only happened once for that long. But i did notice that since that incident she stopped going 1-2x a day and started going once every 2-3 days. I think it's fine (and common with ebf babies) as long as they are peeing, and do seem content and not in pain or anything.

michelles - 25 days ago.
wonder if any EBF moms out there have little ones that a really really long time without a bowel movement? stella is five weeks old and has now gone 9 days without pooping. she has tons of wet diapers and seems satisfied. i have tried tummy massage (she screams when i do it) bicycle, and even tried the rectal thermometer thing. she seems content most of the time, sometimes i can tell she is straining. she farts a lot, but nothing else. any advice? anyone else been here?

Suzm - 26 days ago.
About 3 weeks ago, I had to play hookey with a 'migraine'... I was sick the whole time I was pregnant and didn't sleep, and I get up at 4:45 through the week for work. I felt guilty and went and picked up my LO around 2 from MIL, but I stayed in bed all day prior, and it felt great. ( :

phatbaby57 - 26 days ago.
oh reading all of this on sleeping is making me so tired. my lo is 4.5months and is still getting up so often. luckily it's just to eat and then back to sleep, but to have just 6 solid hours. i think he is saving his long stint without food for when i'm at work. he goes from about 4 or 5am till 8 or 9am everyday without eating and then gets me up about every 2 or 3 hours to eat at night. i guess i should just be glad he loves me so much.

Suzm - 26 days ago.
I agree with all of these ladies on the sleeping. My LO slept through the night the same time (actually a week or 2 earlier) than 2 friends that had babies the same week as me and are formula fed. That wasn't until around 3 months. 'Sleep through the night' was going to bed at 8/9 back then, and sleeping until 3. Since she was about 5 months old she has slept 7-5 pretty consistently, and my friends who have formula fed babies still don't seem to sleep as good as Maddy. We have started giving her formula in the past month or so and it hasn't made a difference.

lilli1317 - 26 days ago.
As for sleeping, I was prepared to have a non-sleeper since I read that BF babies slept shorter periods of time but my son started sleeping through the night in his own room at 10 weeks (8pm to 7am). However, since I pumped so much at the time and had a large freezer supply, my husband always gave him a bottle of expressed BM at night before bed. With the bottle he probably took more than he probably would have nursing to sleep so its possible that that made him content longer through the night. If you are desperate, I would try that before formula. At the same time though, I always pumped before bed and woke up to pump in the middle of the night for a bottle and to maintain supply so its a trade-off. Even if the baby is sleeping if you want to maintain supply, you probably wont be!

lilli1317 - 26 days ago.
I got AF back at 6 weeks. I pumped throughout the day everyday and the week before I was due to get AF every month I noticed a drop of about 4oz each day (I would normally get about 8 so it was cut by half). And every month I would freak out that I wasnt getting enough and my supply was gone for good, but every month the day AF came my supply came almost instantly back to normal. Crazy!!

gladek - 26 days ago.
PGFirsttimer-Sometimes your supply does dip during your cycle, but if you aren't a 'pumper' you may not even realize. Your baby may just drink a bit more often, its totally natural. A low supply would be if your LO is constantly crying, not getting enough, losing weight, not peeing enought, etc. Just nursing a little more frequently is probably just a little dip, a growth spurt, or an extra cuddly baby :-)

PGFirstTimer - 26 days ago.
What exactly does low supply mean? How can you tell? I ask because AF came this weekend and my DD has been feeding LOTS, especially in the evening. I don't know if it's related or she's just going through a growth spurt. I'm not worried, I've just been letting her feed as she needs to, but I'm curious to know if that might be why...