AT THE HOSPITAL …

Make sure you tell your doctor and nurses at the hospital that you want to breastfeed your baby. Many Hospitals already are following guidelines that support breastfeeding, but you need to be sure to receive the best support from hospital staff.

It is important to nurse your baby within 1 hour after birth. It's best for breastfeeding if mom and baby are not separated after birth. They should "room together". Don't let anyone give a bottle or even a pacifier to your baby. This may disrupt a baby's inborn knowledge to suckle on mom's breast.

During the first days you will have a secretion called colostrum. This is the first milk and it has antibodies to protect your baby against infections. It is very rich in protein. It might look just like water or be creamy and yellowish. Colostrum also help the baby to pass the first stool (called meconium). Nurse on demand. You and your baby are learning the art of breastfeeding. Take your time and give your baby time too. Don't restrict feedings. Your baby will let you know when he/she is hungry. Your baby might want to go to the breast just to pacify himself/herself. That's very OK! Make sure you hold your baby up to your breast and that the baby's tummy and body are aligned towards your body ("tummy to tummy position").

The baby should open his or her mouth very wide and also put on his mouth a good part of or all of the areola (darker brown of your breast surrounding nipple.) Upper and lower lips should be rolled outward. Baby's chin and nose will touch the breast. Your baby should not suck on the tip of the nipple.

Most of the hospitals have professionals specializing in breastfeeding called LACTATION CONSULTANTS. Ask for help. If for any reason you become separated from your baby for a long period of time, seek help from hospital lactation services or your local WIC PROGRAM to receive a breast pump. This equipment will help to extract your milk to feed your baby and to maintain your milk supply as well. Rest with your baby. Limit visitors. You and your baby have had hard work and must rest.

At Home

Trust in yourself: Usually every mother notices a change of breast size during pregnancy. If this happened to you, it's more likely you will be able to produce milk for your baby. Only in rare cases of breast surgery, trauma or rare diseases the mother is unable to breastfeed.

If you have a medical condition (HIV, a chronic illness or take medicines) talk to your doctor. Most medicines are compatible with breastfeeding.

Positioning: The Key to Success! Make sure you hold your baby up as close to your breast as possible. Make sure your baby's entire body is aligned, facing and touching your tummy. Your baby should open his or her mouth as wide as possible then you gently introduce your breast into his or her mouth. Do not pinch your areola. Your baby needs to grab part or the total of your areola. Support your breast in a "C" hold, under the base of your breast.

Observe your baby's clues: Observe your baby's signs for hunger such as arm motions, opened eyes, rooting (baby moves head towards mom's chest), hands go into mouth. Your baby's cry is a late sign of hunger. He/she might be too upset and impatient to nurse. Establish a good milk supply: nurse exclusively until your baby is 4-6 weeks old. This will make your body produce milk to what your baby needs. The more the mother nurses, the more milk she will produce.
Your milk will change: After several days your milk will be richer in carbohydrates and fat but still will have good amounts of protein and antibodies. You might feel that your breasts are "full". It's important to keep nursing so your baby can relieve this engorgement. This goes away if you nurse your baby around the clock. Slowly your body will adjust to the amount of milk your baby takes. So it's normal not to feel this engorgement after a couple of weeks. This does not mean your milk "went away". In a feeding, 3/4 of what your baby takes will be produced right away (called "let down").
Forget about the clock: a newborn's stomach is very small and it can only keep about 2 ounces at a time. That's why babies nurse frequently (8 or more times in 24 hours) and they are supposed to do so! It depends on a baby's Central Nervous System to be ready to "sleep through the night"… and usually they are not ready until 4 to 6 months of age! So again, be aware of your baby's signs for hunger (see above).

National WIC Learning Center

References

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