Getting Started with Breastfeeding

Getting Started with Breastfeeding

August 21st, 2010 by admin  |  No Comments

Breastfeeding is the best thing you can possibly do for your baby to promote good health and nutrition. If you want to give it a try, you are making a great choice for your infant’s health, but it can be a bit daunting at first. It seems as though breastfeeding should be the most natural thing in the world, and many new moms are surprised and disappointed when it is difficult or challenging. Hang in there – with time, practice, and a little help, you will soon be a breastfeeding pro.

The First Feedings

If you have a normal, vaginal delivery you will likely be able to put your newborn to the breast right away, but don’t expect too much. Your baby will be very tired from the birth process and may fall asleep rather than putting too much effort into eating. Full-term babies are born with the sucking reflex, which allows them to eat whether from breast or bottle. Your baby does have the ability to suck at the breast, but may take a little time to figure out how to latch on properly.

Over the first few days of life, you will spend a lot of time practicing latching on with baby. A proper latch is the key to successful breastfeeding, so if you are experiencing trouble with it such as pain or baby coming off the breast repeatedly, ask for help. The best time to get help with early stages of breastfeeding is while you are still in the hospital. The nurses in the maternity ward can offer you a great deal of knowledge and experience. There should also be a specialist in the area of breastfeeding, called a lactation consultant, who can provide help and support if getting started is tough.

During the early feedings, baby won’t be getting large amounts of milk, but the first milk that your breasts produce is vital to baby’s good health. Colostrum, the early milk, is filled with nutrients and antibodies that will protect your baby. Although it has become common to offer a newborn formula as a supplement to the small amounts of colostrum, it isn’t really necessary. Your baby doesn’t need to eat that much in the first 24-48 hours, and the weight loss that can scare some new parents into adding formula is actually normal for newborns. So don’t worry – your baby is getting enough to eat.

Dealing with Engorgement and Pain

It will take a while for your milk supply to truly come in, probably a few days. When it does, you might experience an uncomfortable feeling of fullness in the breasts, known as engorgement. This will settle down as the baby establishes breastfeeding and your body adjusts to the amount of milk needed. There are a few ways to deal with engorgement. Some women use warm compresses to soothe the breasts. You can also express some of the milk, either with a breast pump or even by hand to release the pressure. Remember though that the more milk you express, the more your body will think is needed for the baby, so it could perpetuate engorgement.

Early on, you might experience pain, redness and even cracking of the nipples. Some of this is normal; your body is adjusting to the new process. But continued pain is not normal and often is a sign that baby is not latching on properly. If you can’t seem to get the right latch, make an appointment to see a lactation consultant, who can help you get it figured out. In the meantime, apply lanolin to soothe the nipples and make sure you dry them thoroughly after a feeding.

Breastfeeding is not always easy, but it is well worth sticking out the first weeks for the long-term health of your baby. Most women won’t have problems once it is established, but if you do, talk to your doctor and get some help.

The First Days with Your New Baby

The First Days with Your New Baby

March 31st, 2010 by admin  |  No Comments

There is nothing like the magical moment when you see your long-awaited baby for the first time. The first few days of life with baby are both the most wonderful and some of the most challenging for new parents. Suddenly everything has changed, and your world revolves around this tiny little person whose health and well-being are entirely in your hands.

What Your Baby Looks Like

Years of seeing babies being “born” on television and in movies have ill prepared new parents for the reality of a newborn. Your baby might not be the perfect bundle of joy you were expecting. The process of birth can be difficult on a baby, especially with a long vaginal birth. You might see things like a cone-shaped head, squished nose, and red marks on baby’s face and body.

Babies often have blotchy skin and still have some of the waxy white coating on their skin known as vernix, which covers a baby’s skin in the uterus to protect it from the long exposure to amniotic fluid. It is not uncommon for babies to be born with a little extra hair on their bodies as well. Both of these will soon be gone.

Your baby will also have a piece of the umbilical cord still attached, which will be clamped off at first. This usually falls off within the first few weeks of life. You may notice that your baby’s genitals appear swollen – this is a normal reaction to hormones passed from the mother, and will recede over time.

What Your Baby Needs

In the first days of life, what your baby will do most is eat and sleep. It is not unusual for baby to fall asleep not long after birth; after all, it has been a long and trying day. While it is tempting to stay awake and watch this sleeping miracle you have waited so long to see, new moms should take advantage of their newborn’s naps to get some much needed rest as well. Sleep in the first days will be erratic, so get it while you can!

If you are breastfeeding your baby, you may put her to the breast immediately following birth, but don’t expect much. She may be tired and has not yet mastered latching on, although the sucking reflex is well developed in full-term infants. When she is awake, you can try again. The first few days are a time for mom and baby to learn the ropes of nursing. Don’t be concerned if your baby doesn’t seem to be eating a lot at first. She is still being sustained by nutrients passed through the umbilical cord, and her appetite will soon grow.

It is entirely normal for a newborn to lose up to 10% of her birth weight within the first few days of life. Your doctor will monitor her weight to ensure it starts to climb again.

Bringing Baby Home

Depending on whether you had a vaginal birth or a caesarean section, you will likely be in the hospital for the first 2-4 days of your baby’s life. During this time you will have the assistance of the nurses in caring for your baby. Don’t be surprised if going home, that much anticipated event, feels a bit overwhelming or even frightening. This is a normal reaction to the realization of the monumental task before you.

In these early days, focus on caring for your new baby and yourself. Don’t worry about the housework, and if you have offers of help don’t be afraid to accept. The first days with a newborn are exhausting and challenging, especially for moms recovering from a difficult birth or from a c-section.

Remember that both you and your newborn are making a major adjustment to a whole new life, and there are bound to be some bumps in the road. You will soon settle into a new routine, and things will smooth out again.