These 10 Valuable Tips will help make your breastfeeding experience

more successful and enjoyable.

10 Valuable Tips for

Successful Breastfeeding

10 Valuable Tips for

Successful Breastfeeding

adph.org/perinatal

Today, most mothers are choosing to breastfeed their babies. As more Alabama families understand just how much of a difference breastfeeding makes to the health of both the mother and her baby, more families are supporting mothers to breastfeed longer.

Here are 10 Valuable Tips for Successful Breastfeeding:

1. Breastfeed Right After Birth• Cuddleyourbabyonyourchesttowelcomehim/herintotheworld

• Skin-to-skinpromotesmilkproductionandbaby’sfeedingreflexesaretriggered

• Babywillstartlooking/rootingforthebreastandmorebreastmilkwillbemade

• Babiesareoftenmorealertandinterestedinfeedinginthefirsthourfollowingbirth

• Remainingskin-to-skinwillhelpbabyregulatebodytemperature,bloodsugar,andreducestress

• Forcaesareanbirths,themotherorfathercanholdthebabyskin-to-skinuntilthebabycanenjoyhis/herfirstfeed

How to Feed Your Baby

• Lookforbaby’searlysignsofwantingtofeed,suchasrooting,lickinglips,and/orputtinghandsinthemouth.Cryingisalatehungercue

• Sitorliedowncomfortably,ifyouareuncomfortablethenbabywillsenseandalsobeuncomfortable

• Relaxyourshouldersandbringbabytoyourbreastratherthanyourbreasttobaby

• Holdbabyclose,nosetonippleandchintobreast.Supportbaby’sneckandshouldersfirmlywithoutpushingthebackofbaby’sheadasthisoftenmakesthebabypushawayfromthebreast

• Supportyourbreastbyholdingfourfingersunderneath,awayfromtheareola(darkarea),withyourthumbontop.Expressafewdropsofmilktoawakenbaby’ssenseoftasteandsmell

• Restbaby’schinonthebreast,nosetonippleuntilhis/hermouthopensasbigasayawnandhis/herheadmovesbacktotakeabigmouthfulofthebreast.Youcanalsogentlytouchbaby’slipsuntilthemouthopens very wide

• Whenbabyfeelsyournipplewithhis/hertongue,thelipswillcloseovertheareolaandnippleandformaseal;bothlipsshouldberolledoutwards.Youwillfeelbabysucklinggentlyatfirstandthendeeplyandrhythmically, one or two sucks per swallow, with little pauses to rest

• Whenbabycomesoffthebreastorisnolongersucklingactively,burpandoffertheotherbreast

• Ifyouneedtotakebabyoffthebreast,gentlyplaceafingerinthecornerofhis/hermouthuntilyoubreakthe suction

There are many breastfeeding positions; find the one that is most comfortable for you and your baby. If you have had a caesarean birth, you may need help to position yourself and your baby comfortably. Ask for help from nurses, your doctor, and/or a lactation counselor or consultant.

2. Getting Started• ThefirstmilkiscalledColostrum,afluidrichinvitamins,protein,andimmunefactorstoprotectyour

baby

• Anewborn’sstomachisverysmallandcannotholdalargeamountofmilk–thisiswhy“firstmilk”isveryconcentrated and why babies want to feed often in the beginning

• Baby’sstomachat1dayoflifeisaboutthesizeofamarble,day3-5aboutthesizeofagolfball,andday7-10aboutthesizeofatennisball

• Learnhowtoexpressyourmilkbyhandsothatyoucanattractbaby’sattentiontohelpstartafeedingand to relieve breast fullness, if needed

• Attheendofafeed,expressafewmoredropsofmilkandgentlyrubintoyournippletohelppreventdrying and cracking

• Feedingbabyoftenwillhelpincreasemilksupply.Themorebabybreastfeeds–themoremilkyouwillproduce–“SupplyandDemand”

Watch the Baby not the Clock

• Insteadoftimingfeedsbytheclock,lookforbaby’searlysignsofwantingtofeed(rooting,lickinglips,puttinghandtothemouth)

• Babiesneedtoeatofteninthefirstweeks–8ormoretimesin24hours

• Nightfeedsareimportanttoestablishbreastfeedingandtomaintainmilkproduction

Theusualpatternis:feedbabyononebreastuntilhe/shestopssuckling,burp,changediaper,andthenoffertheotherbreast.Thenexttimeyoubreastfeed,startwiththebreastonwhichhe/shefinishedthelasttime. Somebabiespreferseveral“shortcourses”;otherspreferonelongfeeding.Donotrushbaby–takeyourtime.

Signs Your Baby is Getting Enough Breast Milk:

• Weightgainisaverygoodsignthatbabyisbreastfeedingwell

• Bytwoweeksofage,babywillmostlikelyhaveregainedtheirbirthweight

• Onaverage,fiveormoreounceseachweekafterthefirsttwoweeks

• Sixormorewetdiapersadaybydaysixandfrequentbowelmovementsaregoodsignsoffeeding

3. Milk Production• Themorebabybreastfeeds,themoremilkyouproduce

• Asbabygetsolder,he/shemaybreastfeedforashortertimeorlessfrequentlyandbesatisfied

• Duringperiodsofgrowthspurts,babywillfeedmoreoftenforafewdaysinordertosatisfyan increased appetite

• Duringthesetimes,yourbreastmilkwillincreasetomeetbaby’sneeds

4. The Complete Food• ResearchshowsthatbreastmilkissoimportantthatitistheONLYfoodordrinkyourbabyneedsforthe

firstsixmonthsoflife

• Asbabygrowsyourmilkwillalsochangetokeepupwithbaby’sneedsandcontinuestohavejusttheright amount of nutrients

• Breastmilkcontainsantibodiesandotherimmunefactorsthathelpprotectagainstinfectionsanddisease–benefitsthatlastalifetime

• Beginningat6monthsofage,babiesneedtoreplenishtheirironreservesbyaddingavarietyoffoodsinaddition to breast milk

• Breastmilkisconvenient,alwaystherighttemperature,economical,andbetterfortheenvironment

5. Looking After Mom• Momshouldrestwhenbabysleeps

• Momshouldeathealthymealsanddrinkplentyoffluids

• Ifyournipplesaretender,makesurebabyislatchedproperlytoyourbreastwhenfeeding

• Supportmom’seffortsinbreastfeeding

• Allowsomebreastmilktodryonyournipples;ithaslubricatingandanti-infectiveproperties

• Ifbreastsgetswollenandpainful(engorged),coldcompressesdecreaseswelling,thengentlemassagingandwarmth(warmtowelsortakingwarmshowers)willhelpmilktoflow

• Expressingsomemilkbeforefeedingtorelievefullnessandbreastfeedfrequentlytohelpbreastsfeelmore comfortable

6. Working and Breastfeeding• Babycanhaveallthebenefitsofbreastmilkevenifyouplantogobacktoworkorschool

• Whenbreastfeedingiswellestablished,youcanexpressmilkandleaveitwiththecaregiverforfeedingsthroughout the day

• Breastmilkcanbestoredintherefrigerator(3days)orfrozen(about6months).Refrigerateorfreezebreast milk in clean bottles or bags and date them

• Warmupthebreastmilkbystandingitinhottapwaterbeforeitisused.Microwavingorstoveheatingbreast milk is not recommended

• Inquireaboutflexibilityatworktohavebreastfeedingorpumpingbreaks

7. Breastfeeding and Pregnancy• Exclusivebreastfeeding(nofoodorliquidsotherthanbreastmilkaregiventobaby)forthefirst6months

ofbaby’slifemaydelaythereturnofmenstruation,butovulationcanstilloccur,soyoushouldtalktoyourhealthcare provider about birth control methods and options

8. Thoughtful Reminders• Trytosleepwhenbabysleeps

• Donoteversleepwithbabyinthebedwithyou

• Acceptand/oraskforhelpwithhouseworkandmeals

• Invitevisitorsonlywhenyoufeelready

• Eathealthyanddrinkplentyoffluids

• Rememberthatcigarettesmokeisharmfultoyouandbaby

• Alcoholandotherdrugscanpassintobreastmilkandmayharmbaby.Consultwithamedicalprofessional about any medications or substances you use or might use that could cause harm to baby

9. Talk to Others• Keepcommunicationopen

• Connectwithotherbreastfeedingmothersforsupport

• Discussanyconcernyoumayhaveregardingbreastfeeding

• Dosomethingfuneveryday(relaxinthebathtub,takeawalkwithbaby,keepintouchwithfamilyandfriends)–donotbecomeisolated

10. Enjoy Your Baby• Holdingbabyclosestimulatesmanysenses

• Ababywhoissmiledat,talkedto,andcuddledwilldevelopasenseofsecurity

• Breastfeedingismorethansimplyprovidingnutrientsandcaloriesforphysicalgrowth–itcontributestoan intimate and special relationship

• Youandyourbabyhavetherighttobreastfeedanywhere,anytimeandtherearemanytechniquestohelpachieve this comfortably

• Askfriends,family,healthcareproviders,nurses,lactationconsultants,and/orattendabreastfeedingsupportgrouptomakeitallcometogether.Breastfeedingisbestforyouandyourbaby!

For more information about breastfeeding visit: adph.org/perinatal

Funding to produce this resource provided by a grant from the Association of State and Territorial Health Officials - Breastfeeding Support Learning Community. Project: 86-12323