Breastfeeding : Basics

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Breast milk is the ideal first food for your baby. Babies who are breastfed have fewer infections and allergies during the first year of life. The health benefits from even short-term breastfeeding, which include everything from a lower incidence of obesity and diabetes to improved eye and brain health, can last a lifetime.

Before Baby Arrives

Most hospitals offer prenatal and breastfeeding classes to be taken during mom’s second or third trimester of pregnancy. These are a great idea to introduce yourself to some of the basics of breastfeeding. Contact the hospital at which you will deliver for details about their schedule of classes.

It’s also a good idea to get a book on breastfeeding to educate yourself before the baby arrives as well as for late night troubleshooting. Two books we like are Breastfeeding by Sears and The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding by La Leche League. There are also many excellent websites available for instruction and support as you begin your breastfeeding adventure (check our links page). And most hospitals offer a breastfeeding support group where you can meet with other nursing moms and a lactation consultant and share stories of breastfeeding struggles and successes.

You don’t need to do anything to your breasts to prepare them for breastfeeding. “Roughing up” your breasts is no longer recommended and may strip your breasts of their natural protective substances produced during pregnancy. Don’t use soap on your breasts as this may dry them out. Lotions are usually not necessary.

Getting Started

After your baby is born it’s best, if mom and baby’s condition allow, to breastfeed within the first hour or so after delivery. Baby is generally alert during this time and often eager to nuzzle into mom and try to latch on. Have guests wait outside so you can relax, and ask your delivery nurse to help you position the baby comfortably. And relax. There will be plenty of other opportunities to try again if this attempt isn’t stellar.

Nurse your baby every two hours or so or whenever he seems hungry. He will probably nurse 8 to 12 times a day in the first week or two. In the early days it may feel like your little one never leaves your breast! But your milk will start to come in around four days after delivery and this frequent feeding will help ensure an adequate supply for your baby. Try to nurse from both breasts at each feeding and change the breast you start with each time. You can often tell when your baby is finished on one breast when their sucking slows down and your breast has softened. New babies often fall asleep at the breast- it’s so warm and cozy snuggled up against mom. If your baby is sleepy, try undressing him, tickling his toes, rubbing his back and burping well between sides.

Positioning your baby to breastfeed will take some practice. Enlist dad’s help in getting both you and your little one comfortable. Use lots of pillows and make sure that you can relax in whatever position you choose. Experiment with the different holds for nursing: football, cradle, cross-cradle, side-lying. The nurses or lactation consultants in the hospital can help you with these. In all positions the baby should be tucked in close, tummy-to-tummy and chest-to-chest, nose and mouth lined up with your breast. You and your baby will probably find a favorite position, maybe even a different one for each breast. Alternating these positions early on will help your baby drain all parts of your breast well and will give sore nipples a bit of a break.

In general, it takes a couple of weeks for most mom-and-baby pairs to find their breastfeeding groove and have things work easily and painlessly. Above all, be patient with yourself and you’ll find that breastfeeding can be an enormously rewarding experience.

Is Baby Getting Enough?

One of the most common concerns of new breastfeeding moms is if their baby is getting enough to eat. In general, your body is very responsive to your baby’s needs and amazing in its ability to provide perfect nutrition for your child. The more you nurse, the more milk your breasts will make. You can be confident your baby is getting enough if she is gaining weight, is having six or more wet diapers a day and seems content after a feeding.

What else does my baby need?

• Vitamins: If your baby is exclusively breastfed she should get vitamin D daily starting at about 1-2 months of age. This vitamin is not available from your breast milk and can only be absorbed from sun exposure or supplementation. A deficiency of Vitamin D can lead to rickets, a disease of bone formation. Vitamin D is available over-the-counter and is contained in most of the baby vitamins on the market. We will typically recommend Tri-vi-sol.
• Fluoride: At 6 months of age, your doctor may add fluoride to your baby’s daily vitamin if he is not drinking any water or you have well water in your home.
• Water: You do NOT need to give your baby any extra water. Your breast milk has just what your child needs.
• Formula: We typically recommend holding off on introducing a bottle until your breastfeeding is well established, usually around 3-4 weeks of age, unless otherwise medically indicated. An occasional bottle of formula, while not necessary for most babies, certainly won’t interfere with your breastfeeding success. But regular use of formula will eventually decrease your milk supply and may lead to early weaning, so supplement with caution.
• Solids: Your doctor will discuss adding solids to your baby’s diet between 4 and 6 months of age.

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