Breastfeeding 101

Want to breastfeed? Here's what you need to know:

1. Do the research and make a commitment. If you go in with the attitude that you're going to "try to breastfeed" it's like going into a marathon saying you're going to "try to run" but in order to do either successfully you have to really commit to doing it, and that means preparation. Biggest Tip: Know that it might be uncomfortable or even painful at times while you and baby learn how to latch properly, but don't give up! Give your body the chance to get familiar with the feeling of having let downs, and as your breasts get used to constantly being nursed on, in most cases after TWO WEEKS it will be pain free and easy as pie! Get through that two week hump and you'll enjoy one of the greatest blessings ever :)

2. Make this experience as easy as possibly by taking advantage of all the products available for nursing moms.

• If you have large breasts invest in supportive nursing bras (I actually found a few at Target that I liked better then two I bought at motherhood maternity, and they were less than half the price!).  
• Back to those heavy and engorged breasts, check out a nursing wedge to help lift those natural bottles into an easier nursing position!
• Pick out a button down shirt/ top style or nightgown that allows you to nurse comfortably.(I like stretchy spaghetti straps with a v neck overlay so that I can pull fabric down on one side at a time rather than lift my shirt up and have my whole torso exposed). Gray is probably the worse color for showing milk and black isn't great either. White is probably best b/c it hides spit up, milk, baby powder, desitin, etc!
• You will probably have to nurse in public (whether in your car, at a friends house, or maybe even in a restaurant) so check out some type of Udder Cover - one of my girlfriends cannot live without hers!
• Buy at least one type of nipple cream either lansinoh, medela or some of the other natural products for soothing cracked dry sore nipples.
• Consider either renting or purchasing a double electric pump.
• Unless you are very comfortable holding very new newborn babies I'd suggest the "my breast friend pillow" over a boppy - but some moms use those too for back support behind them in bed or for baby to rest on under kick and play mats, etc.
• Buy a box of nursing pads to place in your bra to collect any leaking milk to avoid embarrassment!
• Buy and read So That's What They're For! a breastfeeding guide by Janet Tamaro. This book is a good start for the research you'll want to do and it's filled with cartoon women nursing so you dont have to look at the real pictures if that makes you feel any better. The book shows you different nursing positions as well as phone numbers for lactation consultants and doctors in case you need to make a call for some support or have questions about nursing while taking meds, etc. There are SO MANY resources in this book it's crazy!
• Go online and look for an "ItzBeen" either from their website, ebay, or babysrus. When you are beyond sleep deprived 3 minutes will feel like 30 minutes, but it's so important to make sure you are actually nursing for at least 15 minutes on both sides so this handy dandy little stop watch keeps track of the time for you (as well as which side you nursed on last, and you can track when you last changed the diaper, how long baby's been sleeping, or when you last took your pain meds).

3. Now that you've purchased some basic nursing supplies let's get down to nursing! When baby is born as soon as possible try and nurse. When my first son was born I was afraid to try and nurse because I was in so much pain I didn't want him to feel my anxiety. I wanted our first nursing experience to be beautiful. When I had my second son Jonathan, I had a Cesarean delivery and as soon as I was wheeled into the recovery room (about 40 minutes after he was born) I tried to nurse him and I am AMAZED at how well he did. He latched right away and nursed for 11 minutes! So basically the first time I held him he was nursing and THAT was beautiful :)

4. Time to get baby to latch on! The sooner you try to do this after birth the better. If the room isn't too cold you might want to undress baby (this helps baby wake up too) and nurse him skin to skin. If you touch baby's lips with your nipple the scent and sensation should make baby open his/her mouth. Don't just let baby suck on the very tip of your nipple, you want to wait till baby opens his mouth as big as possible and then in one swift motion push the baby's head into your breast. You want the nipple to be as far into the back of the throat as possible b/c this will prevent nipple damage. You also don't want to start bad latching habits so if you feel the baby isn't on right use the tip of your finger and slide it into the side of baby's mouth. This will break the suction without hurting you. Then try again. My nurse told me you want the baby to look like he's biting down on a burger, the way you open your mouth to a big tall sandwhich is the way you want baby to latch on. Once the baby learns how to nurse correctly you won't have to work so hard to get them on right...After a couple weeks you'll be able to get baby to latch on in the dark, half asleep, without any thought at all.

5. Now that baby is latching on correctly, you want to help baby nurse for 10-15 minutes on each side every hour or two. This can be tricky because the breast is so warm and cozy and mommy's scent and heartbeat puts baby in a calm happy place so most babies pass out as soon as they latch on. You might have to keep bugging baby to stay away and suck suck suck. My pediatrician showed me how to "pump" their arm to stimulate sucking. You just flap their little arm up and down like you are pumping them! You can undress them, tickle their feet stroke their hair, etc. I personally noticed that when you stroke their cheek this was a distraction and they turn their head and open their mouth looking for a nipple and breaking the latch, so see what works best for you.

6. How do you know if they are getting anything? The lactation consultant showed me that if they are sucking and swallowing you'll see this pulsing near their temples and right under their ear along their cheek. As your milk comes in you can actually hear them swallowing harder. Remember the diagram in Breastmilk 101? Newborn babies have tiny tummies (about the size of a marble) so don't think they need a 4 oz bottle right away!

7. Alternate the breast you fed on last and nurse every hour or two. The more often you nurse, the sooner your milk will come in and the faster your milk supply will increase. Think of Dori from Finding Nemo. She sang in encouragement to Nemo's dad, "Just keep swimming, just keep swimming" but change it to, "Just keep nursing, just keep nursing."

8. Even if you think you're doing fine, meet with the lactation consultant (they are only there certain times of the day so tell your nurse that as soon as one gets to the hospital you want to meet with her) just to get any extra tips, pointers or suggestions on your latching and nursing positions.

9. Some women nurse without any pain, but most will feel some discomfort and a large part of that can be because of damaged nipples (from either bad latches or b/c they are getting dried out). Before they get too sore, apply a thin layer of nipple cream (I prefer Medela sold at Target) after each nursing. You don't have to scrub and clean this off before nursing again. Think of it as chapstick for your breasts. This "chapstick" moisturizes and creates a barrier of protection. Nursing removes natural oils so the skin gets dried out and this is when your nipples can become very tender, crack or even bleed. (If they get too damaged or sore you might have to pump and either bottle feed or "finger feed" - I'll go over that in another blog)

10. For first time moms, anticipate it taking up to 4 or 5 days for your milk to come in and try not to use bottles, formula or pacifiers for the first couple weeks to avoid nipple confusion and delay milk production. Don't beat yourself up though if you have to use any of these things, I had to use all three. I had blisters the first time and just needed a 4 hour break to allow some recovery time so I pumped and the second time I had to pump and use a bottle for 2 days b/c of nipple damage due to a bad latch. I also had to allow my son to try and use a paci b/c his screaming was unbearable (my uncle and I joked that the neighbors probably thought I was illegally harboring and torturing some rare exotic bird) and I tried to formula feed thinking that might put an end to his cries.

11. Breastfeeding can be a form of contraceptive (not full proof!) because the body might not regulate back to your normal cycle during part or the entire time you are nursing. Do not think you can't get pregnant when nursing b/c I know two moms that did, but don't be surprised if you don't get your period for 11 months after birth either (my friend didn't get hers for 11.5 months and I didn't get mine for the first 7 with Ben...my second son Jonathan is almost 6 months old and I still haven't started my period yet). I also know moms that exclusively breastfeed and started their period 2 months after giving birth. Every body is different but just be aware that nursing can shift / alter your menstrual cycle.

12. Benefits for Mom! "Breastfeeding lowers your risk of getting breast cancer. A woman who breastfeeds for twenty-four months of her life drops her risk in half"(p 27 STWTF!). "It lowers your risk of endometrial cancer, ovarian cancer, and osteoporosis. It helps your uterus shrink after childbirth. Studies show that nonbreastfeeding women's uterus never shrinks backs to prepregnancy size. It helps you loose weight because  breastfeeding burns off 500 - 1,000 extra calories a day"(p 28 STWTF!). Nursing releases endorphins that make you feel happy and help you better bond with baby. These are only SOME of the benefits for mom.

13. Benefits for Baby! Babies that are breastfed have fewer cases of ear infections, are four times less likely to be hospitalized for bacterial infections, less likely to suffer from Crohn's disease, dermatitis, diarrhea, diabetes, liver diseases, and other afflictions. Breastfeeding may help your child avoid a weigh problem later in life, are 40% less likely to have misaligned teeth, and have better eyesight. Studies have shown that formula feeding may increase a baby girl's risk of developing breast cancer later in life. Babies use as much as sixty times more energy to get breastfed than to get formula from a bottle.(p16-28 STWTF!) Again these are only a FEW of the benefits for baby to breastfeed.