Breastfeeding| Tips for getting off to a great start

02. November 2011 · · Categories: Breast Feeding · Tags: , , , , , , , , , , ,

Breastfeeding is like a hike through the woods: Natural, but not always simple. In fact, it can be challenging, breathtaking, and full of the unexpected.

After birth the baby, these tips can help you get off to a good start:

  • Tru to breastfeed as soon as possible after birth.
  • Ask for an on-site lactation consultant to come help you.
  • Ask the staff not to give your baby other food or formula, unless it is medically necessary.
  • Allow your baby to stay in your hospital room all day and night so that you can breastfeed often. Or, ask the nurses to bring you your baby for feedings.
  • Try to avoid giving your baby any pacifiers or artificial nipples so that they will get used to latching onto just your breast.
When awake, your baby will move his or her head back and forth, looking and feeling for the breast with his or her mouth and lips. The steps below can help you get your baby to “latch” on to the breast to start eating. Keep in mind that there is no one way to start breastfeeding. As long as the baby is latched on well, how you get there is up to you.
  • Hold your baby, wearing only a diaper, against your bare chest. Hold the baby upright with their head under your chin. Your baby will be comfortable in that cozy valley between your breasts. You can ask your partner to place a blanket across your baby’s back and bring your bedcovers over you both. Your skin temperature will rise to warm your baby.
  • Support their neck and shoulders with one hand and hips with the other. They may move in an effort to find your breast.
  • Your baby’s head should be tilted back slightly to make them easy to suck and swallow. With their head back and mouth open, the tongue is naturally down and ready for the breast to go on top of it.
  • Allow your breast to hang naturally. When your baby feels it with their cheek, they may open their mouth wide and reach it up and over the nipple.
  • At first, your baby’s nose will be lined up opposite your nipple. As their chin presses into your breast, their wide, open mouth will get a large mouthful of breast for a deep latch. Keep in mind that your baby can breathe at the breast. The nostrils flare to allow air in.
  • Do not put your hands on your baby’s head. As it tilts back, support your baby’s upper back and shoulders with the palm of your hand and pull your baby in close.

This is a perfect opportunity to discuss your concerns and wishes about feeding your baby. One important reason to have the decision to breastfeed made before the delivery is that it can be very difficult or even impossible to start using formula and then later try to switch to breastfeeding. This is because the ability of the breasts to produce milk diminishes soon after childbirth without the stimulation of breastfeeding.