Your little bundle of joy has finally arrived and as exciting as it is to finally meet your precious baby, breastfeeding can feel like a daunting task – especially to first-time moms. Don’t worry though, we’re covering all the essential breastfeeding tips you need, from how to position your baby to ensuring that your bub is getting enough milk.
Let’s take a look at the basics of breastfeeding. For our newbie moms, we’re taking a look at the technique (how to position your baby) you could use to breastfeed better, the mechanics of breastfeeding (ensuring your little one is getting enough milk and the logistics (timing the meals).
Once you get past the initial trial-and-error days of finding the best system for you, nursing becomes one of motherhood’s most rewarding responsibilities.
Still in the early stages of pregnancy and doing some research before your little one arrives? Read this blog post for all the facts you need about the third trimester of pregnancy.
Basic Breastfeeding Tips
The production and stages of breast milk
Breast milk is produced based on how much milk your baby needs. Basically, the more frequently and effectively your baby breastfeeds, the more breast milk you’ll make.
During the first few days of breastfeeding, your breasts produce colostrum. Colostrum is the first breast milk. It has a yellow or orange tint, it is thick, rich and filled with essential nutrients and immunoglobulins. There will probably only be about a teaspoon of colostrum produced.
Your baby will spend their first few days breastfeeding very often, but this is normal and will it help you to establish a good milk supply. Don’t worry that the colostrum isn’t enough. Your baby’s stomach is tiny, and that’s all your little one needs at this stage.
As the days go on, you’ll make more breast milk and your baby’s breastfeeding pattern will tell your body how much breast milk to make. Your milk supply will eventually adjust to your little one’s demands. Your breast milk will increase in amount or “come in,” around the third or fourth day.
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At this time, your breasts will feel much fuller and heavier as your breast milk changes from colostrum to transitional milk (a crossover between colostrum and mature milk) to mature milk. Mature milk arrives between day 10 and 2 weeks postpartum. It is thin and white, and it looks like watery skim milk. It’s packed with all the fat and other nutrients that growing babies need.
Latching baby onto your breast
In the beginning, it might take quite a few tries to get your baby into the right position and for you to get comfortable but keep trying mama, you’ll get there. First, it’s essential to know a good latch, since improper latching is the most common cause of breast discomfort.
Baby’s mouth should cover both your nipple and the areola so that their mouth, tongue, and lips massage milk out of your milk glands. Sucking on just the nipple will not only leave your infant hungry because the glands that secrete the milk won’t be compressed, but it will also make your nipples sore and cracked.
How long to breastfeed
You may have heard that short feeds prevent soreness and cracking but that usually comes from feeding in the wrong position. Instead of setting time limits on each feed, let your bub take their time at the breast and expect feedings to be long initially.
Typically, each session should last 20 to 30 minutes. That’s on average just an average though, your baby could take more or less time. Sometimes they need to feed for longer in the beginning and during growth spurts.
How often to breastfeed
Tip: Feed your baby when they’re hungry (on demand) rather than on a schedule.
Babies usually aren’t born hungry but their appetite generally picks up around the third day so there won’t be much demand at first. This means you may have to initiate (even push) your baby to nurse at first.
A newborn should have at least 8 to 12 feedings every 24 hours, even if demand isn’t up to that level yet, for the first few weeks. Break that down and you’ll probably be nursing every two to three hours, day and night. Feeding patterns vary widely from baby to baby so just take this as a rule of thumb but you might need to nurse a little more or less frequently.
If you have a hungrier or more impatient infant on your hands, you may go a little more than an hour between feedings. A more easily satisfied baby might be able to go for 3.5 to 4 hours. As your milk supply increases and your baby gets bigger, the breaks between feedings will get longer.
Did you know that breast milk is more easily digested than infant formula, allowing the tummies of nursing babies to empty faster and thirst for more sooner?
Signs baby’s hungry
A good way to master the right breastfeeding balance is to nurse when your baby seems hungry. Don’t wait for tears; by then, your little one may be uncomfortably hungry, especially the longer she cries. Your little one may be tiny, but they’ll let you know they’re hungry in the following ways:
- Nuzzling against your breasts
- Sucking furiously on that little baby hand or your shirt, or even your arm
- Opening their mouth
- Sucking on lip or tongue, which can look like they’re sticking their tongue out
- Making lip-smacking sounds
How to tell if your baby is getting enough milk
Many new nursing mothers worry at some point that the baby isn’t eating enough. It’s not easy knowing how much milk you’re producing let alone how much milk your bub is consuming but there are a few ways to tell:
Disposition: if your little one seems happy and content after most feedings, then chances are you have a satisfied customer that is getting enough milk. If your baby is crying and fussing or sucking on their fingers frantically after a full feeding, they might still be hungry (though these can also be signs of gas or infant colic).
Dirty nappy: after three or four days, your newborn’s nappy should need to be changed at least 6 and up to 12 times with clear to very pale yellow urine and at least 3 or 4 soft, yellow bowel movements over a 24-hour. For the first several weeks, it’s a good idea to keep a written record of breastfeeding frequency and diaper output, which you can bring along to the paediatrician’s office at each visit.
Weight: infants should gain weight steadily every week from the second week on. Roughly 2kgs in weight gain per week is typical for newborns, although weight gain varies depending on age and other factors. Your paediatrician will let you know if your baby’s growth is on track.
We hope these breastfeeding tips have made you feel a little more comfortable to start breastfeeding your little one!
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