Learning to Breast Feed
Breastfeeding, unfortunately
doesn't come with an instruction leaflet, so for it to fit into your
life it needs to be approached in a totally different way
to bottle feeding. There are means and ways of making it work for
you, and approaching breast feeding with confidence will go a long
way in ensuring you find the most successful way of attending to one
of your baby's most vital needs.
Soon after birth, a healthy baby will start searching for a nipple
and some may even feed a little, this first feed can help in getting
breastfeeding off to a good start. Don't worry if you are separated
from your baby straight after the birth, there will be plenty of
time to master the act. Try and keep your baby near to you in these
early days, so the two of you can use every available opportunity to
learn about feeding, offering him the breast each time he cries or
seems restless.
Perseverance is the key to success, so if you are battling in any
way, ask the nurses for some advice.
During
the first two to three days before your milk comes in, your baby
will be fully satisfied on the small but valuable quantity of
colostrum present in your breasts, so these first feeds are inclined
to be very short. But this will change, and by the end of the first
week, or when a routine has been formed, it is quite normal for
there to be as many as 10 to 12 irregularly spaced feeds in a 24
hour period.
The first step is probably comfort as this will ensure correct
positioning of the baby on the breast. Placing a pillow under the
arm that is supporting your baby, may help in relieving some of the
weight and also prevent your baby from 'pulling' on your nipple if
she is at the right height. Experiment with different positions,
until you find one suitable to you, some mothers find it helps to
alter positions at different feeds, sometimes sitting and other
times lying down.
Begin by 'teasing' her with your breast, perhaps by expressing a
little of your milk so that she will respond to the smell and taste.
She will probable suckle strongly at first, satisfying her thirst
with the foremilk, but as the feed progresses she may suckle more
slowly as the rich hindmilk lets down. During the feed she will have
constant rests and may even fall asleep at the breast, this is quite
normal, and is her way of deciding that she has had sufficient. You
may find that she will not want to drink from both breasts at each
feed, and whether she suckles from one or both breasts at each feed,
always remember to start with the alternate breast for the next
feed, so that they each receive an equal amount of stimulation.
Once she has decided that she has had enough, gently insert your
little finger between her mouth and your breast, to break the
suction. This is a far less painful method than just 'pulling' her
away when removing her from your breast.
Breast feeding mothers, need plenty of rest, and during these early
weeks you should try and concentrate on a balanced diet with an
adequate intake of fluids, thus establishing an abundant milk supply
for your baby. Eating regularly will also ensure that you have the
energy to cope with the demands of the three to four feeds your baby
is likely to have during the night. Expressing breast milk into a
bottle for night time feeds, is one way of getting 'daddy' totally
involved, but this does seem to create a problem in the long run, as
it is far easier for your baby to suckle from a bottle than it is
from a breast, and this could cause her to become lazy during the
following feeds.
A small baby has a real need for food, love and security, and will
never understand why he has to wait until the clock says it's the
'right time', for those needs to be met. His babyhood dependence on
you is a precious and fleeting moment, when compared to the
remaining years of childhood, so don't ever think that by giving in
to his demands you will be spoiling him.
Feeding on demand is the best way to achieve a successful pattern,
and as time passes, your baby will settle into a routine, so it is
pointless in forcing him to feed every four hours, which normally
results in an unhappy baby and a worried mother. Very soon, he'll be
eating three meals a day with the family, and you'll be calling the
shots!
There are many reasons why a mother may at some time or another have to express her milk, whether it be due to finding relief from engorged breasts, increasing your milk supply or just in need of a full nights sleep.
There
are two methods to expressing milk, namely through a breast pump or
hand-expressing, and whatever method you choose, it is vital that
your hands and the container into which you are expressing are clean
and that you choose a time of day when you are at your most relaxed.
Breast-pumps:
Simply follow the directions for the correct usuage of the pump you are using. Being patient, as practice makes perfect! Seeing as you do not need to use both hands for this method, it may be worth your while nursing your baby on the other breast.Hand-expressing:
Start by encouraging milk flow, by gently massaging your breasts or applying a warm face-cloth over the area. Place your hand on the breast concerned, with your fingers on the underneath part of the areola, and your thumb along the top part of the areola. Gently move your fingers backwards, squeezing your thumb and fingers together, repeating this ryhthimical motion to start the milk flowing.As soon as you have completed the task or obtained the correct amount of milk needed, place it in the fridge, where it will keep for 24 hours. Breastmilk can also be frozen, but should be defrosted at room temperature, and used immediately.
