Breastfeeding Support

Breast Milk Is Best For Babies

Your milk contains nutrients and antibodies that help protect your baby from:

• Diabetes
• Ear and Respiratory Infections
• Eczema
• Asthma
• Obesity
• Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS)

Breastfeeding Helps Your Baby Grow

• Human breast milk isthe gold standard for infant feeding. No breast milk substitute (“formula”) can match the specialized ingredients and protective health benefits of human breast milk.
• Breast milk has the right amounts of what your baby needs to grow.
• Breast milk promotes brain growth.
• Breast milk is easy to digest. As your baby grows, your breast milk changes to meet his changing needs.
• Aniibodies in breast milk help to boost your baby’s immune system.
• Promotes good jaw and tooth development.
• Your baby is less likely to be overfed or have constipation or diarrhea.

Breastfeeding Helps Mom

• Burn calories to help lose weight afer pregnancy.
• Lower her risk of breast and ovasian cancer.
• Develop a strong mother-baby bond that lasts beyond breastfeeding
• Connect with baby even when separated by work, school or hospital.
• Rest and bond with baby while other people help with household duties.
• Save time and reduce baby necessities in the diaper bag.
• Lower her risk of Type 2 diabetes.
• Lower her risk of Postpartum Depression.
• Decrease sick child doctor visits and miss fewer work days to care for a sick baby.

Breastfeeding Is Convenient

• Ready to feed, no mixing or bottled water required and no bottles to prepare or wash.
• Nighttime feedings are easier and breastfeeding moms and babies tend to get back to sleep more quickly.
• Breast milk has never been recalled or affected by manufacturer shortages.
• Easiest in an emergency or power failure. Breast milk is readily available and requires no other supplies.
• Breast milk is free – breastfeeding saves time and money to use for other purposes.

Breastfeeding Helps Society

• Reduces short-term and lifetime costs of health care.
• Improves health and quality of life over a person’s lifetime.
• Reduces sick time taken for children’s illnesses.
• Breast milk is a natural resource and creates no pollution.

The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that babies receive only breast milk for the first 6 months of life and continue to receive breast milk with other foods until at least 2 years of age. After two years, breastfeeding can continue for as long as both mother and baby wish. The longer you breastfeed the more protective health benefits your baby and you receive.

In the Hospital

• Tell all hospital staff that you plan to breastfeed.
• Holding your baby skin-to-skin right after birth will give your baby the chance to breastfeed and to bond with you while he is most alert.
• Rooming-in with your baby will help you become familiar with hunger signals and your baby will be able to breastfeed as often as needed.
• Watch your baby for signs of hunger such as sucking on the hands, sticking out the tongue or ‘rooting around’. When you first notice these, offer your baby the breast. Latching-on is more difficult with a crying or upset baby.
• Breastfeed early and often.
• Ask for help if breastfeeding is uncomfortable or your baby doesn’t latch on well.

Positioning and Latch

• When starting to breastfeed your baby, find a comfortable position and relax your shoulders and arms. Use pillows as needed for support. Try different nursing positions. One position doesn’t meet all needs.
• Hold your baby close to you and at the natural level of your nipple. Support your baby with his head, chest, tummy and knees facing toward you. Your baby’s ear, shoulder and hip should be in a straight line. This will help both of you be comfortable and to get a “good latch”.
• Baby’s nose should be near the nipple and baby’s chin not tucked into his chest. If needed, support your breast with your hand in the shape of the letter “U” or “C” away from the darker area around the nipple.
• Wait until baby’s mouth is open wide. Then bring baby onto the breast, chin first. Aim your nipple toward the roof of his mouth. Let your baby latch on to the darker skin around your nipple.
• Your baby’s chin should firmly touch the breast while breastfeeding. Breastfeeding should not be painful. If there is pain, gently slide a clean finger into the corner of your baby’s mouth to break the latch, reposition and start again.
• After your baby is finished on one side, burp and offer the other breast.

Just remember . . .

The first few weeks with your new baby are a learning process. Spending a lot of time with your baby during the first weeks will allow breastfeeding to occur often-at least 8 to 12 times in a 24 hour period. If your baby seems hungry soon after a feeding, it’s okay to breastfeed again. Breastfeed your baby when he shows signs of hunger. Nursing patterns will change as baby grows.

You will know breastfeeding your newborn is going well when:

• Baby feeds 8-12 times every 24 hours.
• Baby wakes to feed or is easily awakened to feed.
• You hear swallowing when your baby nurses.
• Plenty of wet and dirty diapers.
• Baby has regained his birth weight within 10-14 days.

You can hand express or pump milk from your breasts using your hands
or a breast pump.

Even if you plan to use a pump to express breastmilk, you should still know how to use hand expression. Your first tries at hand expression may only produce a few drops of milk, but with practice you will see an increase in the amount of breastmilk you are able to express. How often you express milk will depend upon your needs and the needs of your baby.
Follow these steps before hand expression or using a pump:

1. Choose a quiet, comfortable place.
2. Wash your hands with soap and water.
3. Relax.

Massage:

1. Gently massage your breast using small, circular motions for a few minutes.
2. Use your finger tips and massage by making small circles.
3. Move around your breast from your chest out toward your nipple.
4. Also massage up near the armpit where there might be some fullness.

Hand Expression:

1. Wash your hands well with soap and warm water.
2. Have a clean, wide-mouth container, such as a bowl to catch your breastmilk.
3. Gently massage your breast for a short time to encourage let-down or to start the milk flow.
4. Place your thumb on one side of your breast and 2 or 3 fingers on the other side of your breast well behind the dark area (areola).
5. Gently press back towards your chest with your hand. Squeeze your thumb and fingers towards each other (together) and roll the fingers slightly forward towards the nipple. Avoid squeezing the nipple.
6. Release the pressure, relax your hand, and repeat. Let the milk drop or spray into the container. Milk comes out from several openings in the nipple.
7. Move your thumb and fingers to other positions on your breast so that you can remove milk from other areas of the breast. Repeat until the breast is drained. Express your other breast the same way.
8. Once you are finished, pour your breast milk into a storage container. Remember to label the container.

Choosing A Breastpump

The right breastpump can make the all the difference for a mother that needs to pump. Breastpumps are not the same quality. A higher price doesn’t always mean a better pump, either. Ask your nutritionist, nurse or lactation consultant about which breastpump is the best choice to meet your breastfeeding needs.

Sore Nipples, Engorgement, and Milk Supply

Remember that most breastfeeding challenges can be prevented by proper latch and milk transfer from mom to baby. If challenges occur, ask for help early so that they do not become a bigger issue.

Sore Nipples

Most common complaint of new mothers. It is a sign that something is not working correctly. Ask for help.

Prevention

• Make sure baby is positioned comfortably and has a good latch. Try a different nursing position.
• Make sure the baby has a wide-opened mouth and a large amount of breast tissue when latching-on. Your baby should not be latched to the nipple only.
• Nurse your baby frequently. Breastfeed at least 8-12 times every 24 hours. Don’t go for long periods of time between feedings.
• Avoid giving bottles or pacifiers early.
• Change your nursing pads when wet.

Solutions

• Start feedings on the side that is the least sore.
• Try different breastfeeding positions. Make sure there is a good latch.
• Massage your breast to start milk ejection before latching.
• Don’t limit how long your baby nurses.
• After breastfeeding, apply a small amount of breastmilk to your nipples and let air dry.
• Change your nursing pads when wet.
• If your baby has white patches on the tongue or cheeks that do not wipe off, contact your physician.

Engorgement

Most mothers experience changes in their breasts between days two and five when colostrum (first breastmilk) starts to transition to mature breastmilk. It is normal for the breasts to get larger and become swollen.

Prevention

• Nurse your baby frequently. Don’t miss or delay feedings.
• Avoid giving supplemental formula, unless medically needed.
• Avoid giving bottles or pacifiers early.
• Make sure that your baby is latched correctly to remove milk from your breast.
• Wake your baby to nurse.

Solutions

• Before feeding your baby, massage your breasts. You can apply a warm (not hot) washcloth or take a warm shower. Express a small amount of milk. Only leave the warm cloth on for a short period of time right before you breastfeed. This is to help your milk flow more easily.
• Make sure your baby is latched correctly to remove milk from your breast.
• Breastfeed your baby every 1 ½ to 3 hours.
• After feeding your baby, express enough breast milk to feel comfortable. Ice packs can help relieve some swelling. Make sure that you put a cloth between your skin and the ice pack.
• Relieve engorgement quickly so that you prevent other problems.
• If you have a fever, call your physician.

Do I have enough breastmilk?

In the first few days after birth, milk supply is being developed and this is enough to feed your baby.
If you feel like you don’t have enough milk in the early days, there could be several reasons:

• • Baby is not breastfeeding enough to get the milk out, or may be sleepy.
  • Your baby does not feed 8-12 times every 24 hours.
  • You are limiting the amount of time your baby spends at the breast.
  • You have started birth control.

Solutions

• Make sure that your baby is positioned and latched correctly.
• Breastfeed at least 8 -12 times every 24 hours.
• Let your baby release the breast to end the feeding.

Remember . . .
Whether you have a lot of milk or not very much, feeding your baby often during the day can help your body learn how much milk to make. Feed at least every 1 1/2 – 3 hours during the day and at least once during the night. If you have questions about the amount of milk you’re making, talk with your nutritionist, nurse, or lactation consultant.

Increasing your milk supply

• Hold your baby skin to skin. Rest and relax to help your milk flow.
• Increase the number of feedings (or remove milk with a breast pump).
• If your baby does not take both breasts, then use hand expression or a pump to express milk out of the second side.
• Use breast massage before, during and after feedings. This helps move more milk into your baby.
• Feed baby more frequently. This tells your body to make more milk.
• Let every meal for baby be at the breast. Giving expressed milk or formula tells your body that it doesn’t need to make more milk.

Helps Moms

• Safe, simple, normal and natural feeding method
• Always ready, no mixing or heating•Decreases mom’s risk of breast and ovarian cancer
• Decreases mom’s and baby’s risk of developing Type I diabetes
• Helps mom with weight loss and getting back into shape faster
• Reduces sick child doctor visits and lost hours at work to be home with a sick baby

Protection for Baby

• Closeness between mother and baby that helps baby to feel secure
• Breast milk promotes brain growth
• Decreases illnesses such as diarrhea, constipation, breathing problems, infections, and eczema
• Breastmilk may keep your child from becoming overweight later in life.

The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that babies receive only breast milk for about the first 6 months of life and continue to receive breast milk along with other foods until at least two years of age. After two years, breastfeeding should continue for as long as mother and baby wish.

• Any amount of breastfeeding is good for your baby. The more breast milk your baby gets, the greater the benefits.
• It is very common for new moms and babies to need a little help getting started with breastfeeding.
• Breastfeed your baby at least 8-12 times per day during the first 4-6 weeks. Avoid supplementing with breast milk substitutes (“formula”) or other liquids or cereals. Skipping breastfeeding sessions can limit the amount of breast milk that you make.
• Nurses, nutritionists and lactation consultants are here to help you and your baby learn breastfeeding skills. Ask for help early in your breastfeeding journey.

Preparing During Pregnancy

• Your body is getting ready to breastfeed – no special preparation is needed. Your breasts are changing, and you may leak a little breast milk. You should not try to pump or express milk before delivery.
• Learn about breastfeeding. Take a class or participate in a mother-to-mother breastfeeding support group.
• Talk with your employer about maternity leave and how to support breastfeeding when you come back to work.

In Hospital

• Breastfeed your baby within the first hour after delivery. Start skin-to-skin contact immediately after delivery.
• Keep your baby in the room with you. This helps you get to know your baby’s hunger signals. You can breastfeed at the first signs of hunger (hands to mouth, licking lips, squirming, yawning, rooting against the chest of whomever is holding her).
• Put baby to breast at least every 1 1/2-3 hours. Don’t skip nighttime feedings. Babies have small stomachs and need to eat often.
• Do not give formula unless there is a medical need. Avoid bottle nipples or pacifiers.
• Ask for help with breastfeeding. Both you and your baby are learning a new skill.

At Home

• Your baby needs to eat about 8-12 times over 24 hours – about every 1 1/2-3 hours.
• Always offer your baby both breasts at a feeding. Finish the first breast before offering the other side. Don’t worry if your baby only takes one side. At the next feeding, start with the last breast first.
• A sleepy baby can be gently helped to awaken for nursing by burping, rubbing her back or head, or undressing down to the diaper.
• You should see active, rhythmic sucking and hear swallowing while your baby nurses.
• Take care of yourself! Rest or sleep when the baby sleeps. Get help around the house from family and friends.
• Have something to drink or a snack when you sit down to breastfeed.

https://wicbreastfeeding.fns.usda.gov/

https://firstdroplets.com/downloads/

https://naturalbreastfeeding.com/