Breastfeeding Essentials
By Irene Zoppi, international board certified lactation consultant, Medela clinical education specialist
Congratulations! You’ve done your homework and made the decision to breastfeed. After all, breastfeeding offers a host of health benefits to both you and your baby, and your friends tell you it’s a bonding experience you’ll treasure. The only problem is that your due date is fast approaching and you don’t have a clue how to satisfy that hungry mouth when your baby arrives.
While breastfeeding is as old as mankind, that doesn’t mean that new moms breastfeed effortlessly—it’s a learned art. In the past, girls grew up watching mothers, aunts and sisters nurse their children. But today many first-time moms have never seen a breastfeeding baby before the nurse hands them theirs. Luckily, with the proper instruction and professional assistance, a mom can quickly establish routines that work for her and her baby.
To truly prepare for that first feed you should take a breastfeeding class or speak with a certified lactation consultant before your baby arrives. This will help prevent common breastfeeding challenges and misconceptions. But if you want to learn some basics before you enroll, here are answers to some frequent questions from first-time nursing moms.
What’s happening when I breastfeed? A typical breastfeeding session consists of two stages—stimulation and letdown. Stimulation can be caused by a baby’s cry and touch, nipple stimulation or sucking. Your body responds by releasing maternal hormones that trigger your milk flow, which is called letdown. Letdown generally lasts between 1-2 minutes, and you’ll often experience multiple letdowns in a single breastfeeding session. While your milk is flowing you may feel some tingling, especially during the first letdown of the feeding session. Remember that all babies are different and breastfeeding sessions vary in length.
How do I hold my baby? The key to a successful breastfeeding session is to get baby comfortably latched on to the breast, so do some reading ahead of time to acquaint yourself with what a good latch looks like and the most frequently used breastfeeding positions: cross-cradle hold, cradle hold, football hold and side-lying hold. The best position for you will depend on your birthing experience and your baby’s preference, so if one isn’t working don’t be afraid to experiment with others.
What should I look for in a pump? Many expectant moms know that pumping will be a part of their breastfeeding solution, whether they plan on working fulltime, or simply want to build up a supply for a night out. If you plan on pumping, look for a pump that incorporates technology based on human lactation research and mimics the way baby nurses—first with fast, light sucks to stimulate let-down; then with slower, stronger sucks after milk starts to flow. This will result in more milk in less time.
Think about how often you plan on pumping. If you’ll be with baby most of the time a manual or single-electric pump may be a good fit. Moms that plan on working outside of the home may want to invest in personal-use double-electric pumps. And moms who have trouble nursing often rent a hospital-grade pump to help build and maintain milk supply.
What should I expect during my first feed? As soon as you arrive at the hospital tell the doctors and nurses that you are going to breastfeed, and breastfeed as quickly after delivery as possible, preferably within an hour of birth. This will help you get off to a good start and prevent engorgement (an uncomfortable “full” feeling of the breasts). If your baby isn’t ready to feed during the first try, make another attempt in a half hour.
You’ll find those first drops of milk don’t resemble the milk you buy at the store—they will be thick, sticky and a yellow/orange color. This milk is called colostrum and will come out in very small amounts (think teaspoons, not ounces). Colostrum is the perfect starter food for baby, packed with nutrients and antibodies. It is extremely easy to digest, and has a laxative effect on baby that helps her pass her early stools and helps to prevent jaundice.
What happens in the early days and weeks of breastfeeding? Ask to keep your baby close during your hospital stay so you can learn to respond to her cues. You should feed your baby at least 8-12 times a day during those first few days. These frequent feedings will help you establish a solid milk supply. Three to four days after birth your breasts will begin to produce thinner, whiter milk in larger quantities.
As you transition home you’ll begin to learn your baby’s breastfeeding personality. Is she a no-nonsense feeder or does she linger at the breast? Is she sleepy and hard to entice with a meal? Is she fussy? With time you’ll learn her preferences.
As you work to establish routines you may find it helpful to draw from other nursing mothers’ experiences. La Leche League International (LLLI) and the Nursing Mothers’ Council are two support organizations dedicated to improving the breastfeeding experience for moms. To find a support group in your area contact your local hospital.
And if at any point during the journey you find yourself looking for encouragement, confused or in pain call a lactation consultant right away. To find a local lactation professional, call 1-800-TELL YOU, or go to http://medela.findlocation.com/ or www.Ilca.org.
With the proper homework and support network, breastfeeding can be a unique bonding experience that you’ll look back on fondly for years to come.
About Irene Zoppi
Irene is a graduate of Boston University’s basic program in nursing and its master’s degree program in parent child health nursing.
She is an experienced clinician caring for new families in antenatal, labor and delivery, postpartum and NICU settings. She also has extensive experience teaching nursing students in a variety of nursing programs, and serves as a clinical education specialist at Medela.
Irene has written many continuing educational programs for health professionals in the area of breastpump function and breastfeeding support. She has been IBCLC certified since 2000 and has served as 1st Lieutenant in the Army Nurse Corps.
Irene is a wife and mother of 2 breastfed children, now teenagers.
