Breastfeeding tips
General tips to follow while starting your breastfeeding journey.
Breastfeeding can be easy for some, but others may need some time and practice to get it right. It's normal and OK to ask for help from your doctor, a lactation specialist or a breastfeeding support group.
Here are some general tips to follow while starting your breastfeeding journey.
Here are some general guidelines to follow
The first few days:
- Milk can take a few days after birth to come in. The average time is between 3-5 days post birth.
- Getting your baby to your breast as soon as you can after birth is best. Ideally, you should start within the first hour after birth, while in the delivery room.
- At first, your baby will need to nurse 10-12 times in a 24-hour period (every two hours).
- Frequent breastfeeding will help your body make milk. Breastfeeding will help your baby gain back any weight lost just after birth. It will also help with jaundice (a medical condition that can be serious, where the skin and eyes turn yellow).
- Track your baby’s wet diapers and bowel movements. This is what you should expect to see:
- Day one: 1 bowel movement/stool in diaper
- Day two: at least 2 wet/stool diapers
- Day three: at least 3 wet/stool diaper
- Day four: at least 4 wet/stool diapers
- By day seven and forward, baby should have 7-8 wet/stool diapers per day. Stool should be yellow and very soft with little specks that look like sesame seeds.
Tips for helping your baby latch on:
- Sit back comfortably.
- Place your baby’s belly on yours.
- Place your baby's head on your forearm. Hold your baby level with your breast.
- Pull/tilt nipple up towards nose
Making sure you are comfortable:
- Sitting in a good chair with back and arm support
- Find a quiet place
- Try different feeding positions
- Try laying on your side in bed with baby facing you. Use pillows to support your back and neck
- Have a healthy snack or drink nearby
Signs of a good latch:
- If it feels comfortable, it’s probably a good latch.
How to make sure you have a good milk supply:
- Finish the first breast first.
- Offer the other breast if your baby still shows signs of being hungry.
- Feel free to tickle your baby or touch your baby's face if he or she begins to fall asleep.
- Active feeding is the KEY to a successful feed:
- Active feeding is the rate of how many sucks to swallows baby does at the breast Suck/swallow ratios of 1:1, 2:1, or 3:1 are considered active feeding
- Baby typically becomes full within 10-15 minutes of active feeding
- In the first week this may be closer to 10 minutes of active feeding
Troubleshooting:
- Sore nipples: The most common cause of nipple pain is a problem with the latch. Review the tips above. If nothing changes, ask your doctor or lactation specialist for help. Ask your doctor if:
- Your nipple skin cracks. Lanolin may help
- Your breast or nipple skin is red or inflamed. This may be an infection that requires a doctor's care
- Blocked duct:
- Signs:
- Small, hard, tender lump on breast
- Breast area may also be red with somewhat warm skin
- Treatment:
- Nurse or pump as often as you can. This will help get rid of blockages
- Cold compress, wet cloth on the area or an over-the-counter anti-inflammatory medicine such as Tylenol or Advil should help
- Look for signs of infection (mastitis):
- If you feel worse, achy or get a fever
- Call your doctor if you have any of the above signs
- Signs:
- Growth spurts: These can happen at any time, but usually happen when your baby is two weeks, six weeks and three months of age.
- Baby may want to nurse more during this period, even more frequently at night. This is called cluster feeding
- Growth spurts can last anywhere from 24-72 hours
- Growth spurts are close to developmental milestones. While these periods can be trying and cause loss of sleep, after a growth spurt, baby may now sleep better at night, smile responsively, or laugh
- Baby may want to nurse more during this period, even more frequently at night. This is called cluster feeding
Growth spurts can be tough when they're happening, but it's great when you reach the next milestone.
Once baby is back to birth weight and breastfeeding is going well, breastfeeding on demand is recommended, but don't go more than 4 hours between feeds. Going longer may not be comfortable.
For more tips and suggestions, ask your doctor or lactation specialist. You might also wish to join a local or online mother's support group for more help.
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