Your guide to feeding your baby
The medical evidence in favor of breastfeeding is vast. Breastfed babies have fewer cases of severe diarrhea. They have fewer colds and flus and fewer ear and urinary tract infections. Human milk may help to protect your baby from sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), juvenile diabetes, some childhood cancers, obesity, allergies, and chronic digestive diseases. In addition, your breastfed baby’s permanent teeth will more likely be stronger and less vulnerable to cavities than a bottle-fed baby’s. And, as an extra bonus, children who were breastfed appear to have somewhat higher intelligence scores on the average than bottle-fed kids.
Ten practical reasons to breastfeed
Besides the great health benefits that breastfeeding confers to your baby, here are the everyday reasons why breastfeeding is handy:
1. Convenient. It’s portable: always there, and ready to go.
2. Time-saver. You don’t have to mix, heat, refrigerate, or sterilize it.
3. Money-saver. It saves thousands of dollars on formula, bottles, and nipples.
4. More closeness. It helps strengthen the bond between you and your baby.
5. More restful. You can sleep while you do it.
6. Less stinky BMs. Baby poop is less unpleasant and smelly.
7. Better baby skin. Your baby’s skin will be softer and sweeter smelling.
8. Less serious illness. Your baby’s doctor’s bills will be lower.
9. Feels good. It soothes baby pain and is relaxing to mom.
10. Self-protection. It could help to protect you from breast cancer.
How breastfeeding works
Your breasts are perfectly designed to nourish your baby and provide the exact nutritional mix he needs to survive and thrive. The glands and ducts inside your breast convert blood and body fluid into human milk. Your nipple and areola, the dark circle that surrounds your nipple, are cushioned and shaped to fit perfectly between your baby’s gums and mouth.
“My nipples got so sore that tears rolled out of my eyes, and I bit on a sock every time nursing got started. Fortunately, the pain passed in a few days, and then we were fine. I’m glad I didn’t give up too early.”
Human milk is not simply “milk” but something far more complex. It is fresh and custom-made for your specific baby. Its composition will change with your baby’s age, size, and nutritional needs. The milk that your body feeds your baby, if he’s a preemie, will be different from the milk he receives if he’s full-term or a toddler.
Infant formula made from cow’s milk delivers about 80 percent of the casein type of protein, regardless of a baby’s maturity. The human body, on the other hand, tailors the components of its milk to suit the baby’s needs at any given time. In particular, the protein balance in the milk changes to meet the growing baby’s needs.
During the first month, when your baby’s stomach and digestive system are primitive and immature, your body will deliver heavier concentrations of whey protein and less of casein-based protein. As your baby matures, the amount of casein-based protein will increase, while the amount of whey-based protein will decrease. Finally, during the last stages of nursing, the protein ratios are about equal.
You will reach your maximum milk-making capacity within a month after your baby is born. After that, your baby’s need for milk won’t increase, and it will gradually decrease when you introduce solids at around five to six months of age.
Human milk gives babies white blood cells and digestive enzymes, and also helps your baby’s immunity to disease. If you’re exposed to an illness, your body will begin immediately creating and transporting germ-fighters to your baby through your milk. Substances in your milk are designed to promote baby brain growth, and build up your baby’s intestinal lining to form a strong infection-proof barrier. Artificial formula, unfortunately, is very weak in comparison.
Your nipples have small muscles that enable them to stand up and harden when they’re stimulated, so your baby can latch on for nursing. When your milk begins to flow, you will discover that your nipple doesn’t have just a single hole in the center, but a series of five to ten pores that release the milk. Sometimes milk will drip, or even spew out of, the breast not being nursed. You can usually stem the flow by applying pressure on the nipple and areola with the heel of your palm.
Getting your milk flowing
The best way to get your milk production started is to breastfeed your baby as quickly as possible after birth and to do so repeatedly as your baby is willing. Starting nursing right away helps your uterus to contract and return to its normal size (you may feel cramping while this is happening), and also helps to prevent your baby from developing newborn jaundice. In addition, it may help to prevent your breasts from becoming engorged, which can be painful.
It usually takes three to four days for a mother’s milk to “come in.” It takes about that long for your body to change over from protein-rich colostrum to flowing, liquid milk. Colostrum is usually yellow or golden in color and contains lots of protein, nutrients, and immunities to protect your newborn from infection. Human milk, on the other hand, looks thin like skim milk, and it may appear watery and sometimes have a bluish tint.
When your milk finally arrives, you’ll feel a warm rush of fluid that fills up your breast, called a letdown. Each time you nurse, your baby will probably have to prime the pump for a few minutes before your letdown occurs, just like puppies, kittens, and piglets do. Later on, when your body gets more experienced with the nursing process, your milk will come down more quickly. If you’re anxious, worried, or distracted instead of relaxed and ready, it may take more stimulation for your body to respond and let go.
Tip
The four secrets to succeed at breastfeeding (without really trying) are: (1) start as soon as possible after birth; (2) position your baby correctly at the breast; (3) let your baby nurse on demand, and for as long as he wants to; and (4) get help immediately if it isn’t working.
Let one breast do most of the work and have your baby empty it fully before changing over to the other one. Then, at the next feeding, start with the opposite breast. That will keep one breast from becoming larger than the other and ensure that they produce roughly the same amount of milk.
Also, don’t be tempted to change breasts in the middle of a feeding before the first breast is emptied in hopes that it will keep your nipples from becoming sore. It won’t. Wait until your baby has completely emptied the starting breast before you change sides. This ensures that your baby gets the optimum nutrition the breast has to offer—not just the “skim” milk at the beginning, but also the important milk fat, called “hindmilk,” that is produced at the end, and which signals to the baby he’s full.
TEN STEPS FOR GETTING STARTED
Your baby’s position for nursing can make the difference between succeeding and being comfortable, and having problems. Here are the basics:
1. Use pillows. A newborn is a heavy weight to hold for long periods of nursing. Use every pillow you can find to support your back, arms, and even under your knees. Firm, custom-shaped nursing pillows are available in many baby stores. They are useful for the early days of nursing.
2. Perfect your aim. Cup your fingers in a C shape around your breast with your thumb right next to your areola (the colored ring around the nipple), but not on it. Squeeze your fingers toward one another to make your areola and nipple longer. Press backward toward your chest with your fingers to make your nipple protrude farther. Press down with your thumb on top to make your nipple point upward, toward the roof of your baby’s mouth; press on your fingers at the bottom of the C to make your nipple turn downward.
3. Pick up your baby. Carefully supporting your baby’s head, lift him and tuck him in your arm on the side you plan to nurse. His head should be above the crease in your elbow.
Tip
If you’re having problems getting your baby interested in nursing, try spreading a little colostrum, (the fluid secreted by a new mother’s breast) on the tip of your nipple. A baby bonds to the smell of his own mother’s breast. Don’t wash your nipples or put cream or other substances on them until your baby has had time to get used to your scent with a few good nursing sessions.
4. Line your baby up with your body. Your baby’s whole body should be lined up with your chest, with the front of his diaper aimed toward your chest. His face and head should face straight toward the breast, rather than being turned to the side. If you nurse lying down on your side, your baby should be on his side too, so his body is aligned face-to-face with yours. Let his head rest on the bed or on your arm. To change sides, pick him up, hold him to your chest, and roll the two of you over together. (See Positions for Breastfeeding on in this chapter.)
5. Do the lip tickle. Using your opposite hand, use the C tricks above to squeeze your breast into a cone shape and move your fingers back and forth to make your nipple tickle the baby’s lips.
6. Chin him in. Wait for your baby to open his mouth wide; then, draw your baby in close so he arrives chin-first, rather than nose-first. His mouth should be at nipple level, with his chin pressed into your breast and his head tilted slightly backward. (If your baby’s chin is tilted too far downward, it will make his tonguing action and swallowing harder.)
7. Stuff in the “sandwich”! The concept is to have your baby take in as much of your areola as he can. And, there should be more areola in his bottom jaw area than in the top of his mouth.
8. Empty the breast. Allow your baby to complete nursing on one side before moving him to the other. You’ll know when he’s had enough because his sucking will slow down and he’ll relax and start to snooze.
9. Break the suction. You may be surprised at what a strong vacuum hold your baby has on your breast. To take your baby off the breast, press down on the part of the areola that’s nearest your baby’s mouth; pull down on your baby’s chin; or gently insert your pinkie finger in the corner of the baby’s mouth.
“I found that a bunch of bed pillows tucked around me worked well for the baby’s nursing after my c-section. It was challenging at first, but once I got the hang if it, it was a lot easier and less work than trying to bottle feed; plus, my baby could go wherever I went with no hassle.”
10. Change sides. It’s easy to get into the habit of feeding your baby on the most comfortable side for you, but if you do, one breast will grow larger than the other. Most moms devise a system to remember which side to start on for the next feed—a hairclip or a safety pin on the bra, or a bracelet that goes from one wrist to the other.