Tips For Success In Breast-Feeding

• Start breast-feeding as soon as possible. Immediately after delivery the baby is usually very alert and can breast-feed well. Early and frequent breast stimulation will help establish a good milk supply. Continual production and removal of milk from the breast ensures a good milk supply especially when initiated early and continued during the early weeks of breast-feeding. This is when the foundation for a good milk supply is established and can be maintained as long as desired.
• Avoid bottles and pacifiers. Colostrum has everything your baby needs in the first few days after birth. It is also saturated with antibodies that help the baby resist illness.
• Learn to look for early "feeding cues" in your baby that indicate a willingness to nurse. Crying is a late sign of hunger. If the baby opens his mouth, licks his lips, sticks out his tongue, or tries to suck something he is telling you in baby language that he will probably feed. Try to pay attention to what he's saying. Sometimes waking techniques such as tickling the baby's feet, rubbing his back, or changing the diaper can help the baby awaken be more alert for a feeding.
• Rooming in with the baby helps you get acquainted with each other and begin to recognize your baby's signals.
• Don't worry about a scheduling feedings in the beginning. The baby is cycling in and out of deep sleep in the first 48-72 hours and is tired just like mom and dad and probably will not waken to feed every time for a "scheduled" feeding. This is a normal newborn behavior. Offer the breast again in 1-2 hrs unless the baby awakens sooner and wants to feed. The time the baby spends sucking can very greatly from as little as 10 min. to 30 minutes on one or both breasts. There are no hard rules about this. Whatever mom and baby are comfortable doing is fine. Remember colostrum is measured in drops and not ounces. Don't be concerned if you don't have full milk production yet. Milk usually "comes in" between 3-5 days after birth. The baby comes well equipped with extra fluid and nutrition stored in his body so he is usually more sleepy than hungry.
• Limiting visitors can be helpful in the first few days so you can rest and breast-feed without an audience.
• Watching a friend or family member or a video of someone nursing can be very helpful. These women can also be a great source of support after the baby is home.

Introduction

Tips for success in breast-feeding

Helpful breast-feeding information

Pumping/Returning to work/Weaning

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