Breastfeeding: Start As You Mean To Go On

Many women assume that since breastfeeding is natural than it must be easy. They neglect to ask the right questions and to prepare themselves before birth.

It is natural, but it is something that must be learned. In the old days, women learned naturally from seeing their own mothers, sisters, aunts, and friends nurse their babies.

Now, it is not part of our larger culture. We are used to seeing babies with bottles propped in their mouths, but it is rare to see a woman breastfeed out and about in public. Just like with natural birthing, we have lost the knowledge that is our birthright.

Ask questions of your care providers, and prepare yourself so that you won't be blindsided and saying, "I wish I knew that before my baby was born!"

Have An Unmedicated Natural Birth

All medications affect the baby in some way--some more so than others. Epidurals and narcotics can cause the baby to be sleepy, less alert, or to have a difficult time coordinating her sucking reflex.

The healthiest birth for you and your baby is a birth that is drug free.

If large amounts of IV fluids have been administered, it can cause your breasts to be more swollen than normal and this makes it difficult for the baby to latch on to your breast.

Meddling in the birth process in any way can upset the natural process and make breastfeeding more difficult.

Breastfeed Immediately After Birth

It is best for baby to nurse within the first 30 minutes after birth. Babies are most alert the first hour or two after birth. They are primed and ready to learn how to feed at the breast.

After this period babies get sleepy and may be hard to rouse. It can be more difficult to get a baby to latch on correctly after this sensitive period.

Nursing immediately after birth helps to expel the placenta, and causes the uterus to contract which minimizes bleeding.

Room In With Your Baby

Keep baby always in the room with you and not in the nursery--even at night. Keep baby in the bed right with you if at all possible.

You will be able to respond better to baby's rooting and hunger signals if he is right there with you. Baby will be able to nurse as soon and as often as he needs to with no delay.

Mother and baby have a biological and emotional need to be close to each other immediately after birth and for many months afterward.

If your baby is with you at all times, the medical staff won't be able to give your baby artificial nipples or supplements of formula or sugar water without your consent.

No Artificial Nipples And No Supplements

Babies suck very differently on an artificial nipple than on the breast. It can be difficult for a baby to switch easily from one to the other when a baby is newborn.

It is less work to get milk from a bottle and it flows more quickly from the bottle nipple than from the breast.

Nipple shields slow the flow of milk to the baby. Also the mother's body is not getting the same signals to produce milk as she would get if the baby were directly on her breast.

Pacifiers, in addition to causing nipple confusion, lessen the amount of time the baby spends at the breast and can cause problems with milk supply.

Water, sugar water, or formula are rarely necessary. If for medical reasons they are necessary, they can be given via a lactation aid while the baby is at the breast and not by artificial nipples.

Breastmilk is the ideal food for your baby and supplementing inhibits establishing a good milk supply.

Feed Baby Frequently And Often

Don't let anyone tell you that you have to restrict the length or frequency of the feedings. Feeding often is what helps to bring your mature milk in and keeps your supply up. Let your baby decide how often and for how long he needs to feed.

Realize Your Mature Milk Does Not "Come In" Until Roughly 3-4 Days After Birth

Before that, your body will be making colostrum. Colostrum is a thick yellowish fluid that gives your baby very important antibodies. It is all that your baby needs in the first few days. You may or may not see any of this fluid--it is made in such tiny amounts.

Refuse Free Samples Of Formula

Free samples of formula should not be given out by the hospital or your health care provider. Formula sitting around the house is an incentive to give up breastfeeding and to start supplementing.

Formula companies, doctors, and hospitals undermine a new mother's confidence in her ability to feed baby at the breast by giving out free samples of formula. Free formula samples decrease the amount and length of time that babies are breastfed.

Once you begin supplementing with formula it causes your milk supply to decrease since breastfeeding works on the supply and demand principle.

Baby needs less of your milk because he is getting full off of formula.

Your breasts will receive less stimulation and thus make less milk. Baby will then not be getting as much from the breast and you will supplement with more formula. Very quickly, baby will be weaned from the breast.

Getting A Good Latch Is Essential

Reading about correct positioning and latch is helpful, but the best way to learn is seeing other successful nursing duos and having hands-on help.

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