Once you decide to breastfeed, you can begin to prepare yourself. The time to do this is now while you are pregnant. Successful breastfeeding depends mostly on the confidence you have in your ability to breastfeed. An appropriate preparation is essential in order to develop this confidence. Receiving adequate support, even during pregnancy, will help your confidence when breastfeeding.
Your breasts were getting ready to breastfeed even before you thought about being a mother. Milk glands start to grow during the teenage years.
During pregnancy, the breast, areola, and nipple get bigger. The nipple and the areola become darker. The alveoli and the ducts increase in number and grow in size.
You will notice a big change in your breasts when the baby is born. Once the placenta leaves the body, hormones stimulate the alveoli to produce milk. The milk passes through the lactiferous ducts and is stored in the small reservoirs situated under the areola causing the breasts to swell. You may feel that your breasts are full or even a little tight. If you breastfeed often, these sensations tend to go away.
When the baby is positioned correctly, movements of the mouth squeeze the reservoirs located just under the areola. The milk flows through several small openings located on the tip of the nipple. The position of the baby's mouth on the breast is very important to assure that the baby is breastfeeding well.
The following animation illustrates the production of milk.
There are several breastfeeding positions. Follow these suggestions for each position.
Remember that it is important to change breastfeeding positions and to offer both breasts at every feeding.
The following pictures illustrate the main breastfeeding positions.
Alternate Arm Cradle Hold This position works well, if you are learning to breastfeed:
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Football Hold This position works well:
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Cradle Hold This position works well:
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Side-Lying Hold This position works well:
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Begin breastfeeding as soon as possible after the delivery. The baby is most awake and ready to learn how to breastfeed during the first two hours after birth. Breastfeeding as soon as possible after delivery will favour skin to skin contact with your baby and will help you produce more milk.
Once you are in a comfortable position, you are ready to offer your breast to your baby. The cross cradle position may be the best position for the learning period.
Babies often suck better if their skin is in contact with the mother's skin. They will keep warm from being skin to skin with you. In the beginning, undress the baby down to just their diaper prior to feeds to help keep baby awake at the breast. Some infants find the breast and latch on correctly from the first tries. Others need help. The following pictures provide a few tips to help your baby accept the breast correctly.
The following video shows a baby well positioned on the breast.
Sample video from "Breastfeeding : Bringing baby to the breast" from http://www.videoallaitement.org/english.html
The following video demonstrates how to apply pressure to your breast to encourage feeding.
Sample video from "Breastfeeding : Bringing baby to the breast" from http://www.videoallaitement.org/english.html
Feed the baby before he or she gets upset or cries loudly. Crying is a late sign of hunger. The baby will show signs of hunger long before starting to cry.
Your baby can
A sign that the baby is hungry.
Skin-to-skin contact involves placing the baby wearing only a diaper, tummy down on his/her mother's bare chest immediately after birth and well into the firts month. Baby may be covered lightly with a blanket. Your partner or support person can also do skin-to-skin to know, comfort and nurture your baby.
Benefits:
Babies should be fed when they cue or indicate hunger. Crying is a late cue or indicator of hunger. Breastfeeding is much easier for both mother and baby if you are able to pick up on baby's early hunger cues.
Sample video from "Breastfeeding : Bringing baby to the breast" from http://www.videoallaitement.org/english.html
Common infant hunger cues include:
Early:
Active:
Late:
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The following exercise will help you acquire knowledge to make breastfeeding successful.
Click on the button that corresponds to the correct answer and check your answer by clicking on the "Check" button.
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It is important to begin breastfeeding as soon as possible after the birth of your baby. |
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You must breastfeed every four hours the first few days. |
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Do not give a pacifier or bottle to a breastfed baby. |
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Most mothers need help to learn how to breastfeed. |
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You must always give water to breastfed babies. |
New mothers often wonder if their baby is drinking enough milk. Although you cannot check the quantity of milk the baby is drinking, there are signs that indicate if the baby is drinking enough.
At the beginning of the feeding, your baby's suckling will be shallow and quick. Once the milk begins to flow, the baby's suckling should become deep and slow. At one point there should be a pause and the baby should open its mouth wide. This is when the mouth fills with milk. The longer this pause, the more milk the baby gets.
You may :
The next video shows a baby breastfeeding well.
Sample video from "Breastfeeding : Bringing baby to the breast" from http://www.videoallaitement.org/english.html
By counting the number of wet and soiled diapers, you can check if your baby drinks enough milk.
A wet diaper is equivalent to 2 tablespoons or 30ml, and a heavy wet diaper is equivalent to 4-5 tablespoons or 60-75 ml.
The weight gain is a good indication that the baby is drinking enough milk. Here are a few clues.
There are other signs to indicate if the baby is drinking enough milk. Observe the following clues:
Ask for help immediately if your baby does not seem to be breastfeeding well. |
There is no special care required for your breasts during pregnancy. Good daily hygiene is sufficient. The Montgomery tubercules (glands) situated under the areola are responsible to prepare your breasts for breastfeeding. To support your breasts, wear a bra that fits well; preferably without underwire.
Basic care is important during breastfeeding
The breasts may become hard or engorged the first days after birth. This engorgement is caused by an accumulation of milk in the breasts. This happens during the inflow of milk usually three to four days after the birth of your baby. If your breasts become hard, the baby may have trouble feeding. The hardness should only last 1-2 days. Here is some advice to help soften your breasts.
During the first weeks, you may have to express breast milk if your breasts are too hard for the baby to latch on.
You will find more information on expressing breast milk in Module 8 entitled "Healthy Family".
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Ask for help immediately if you:
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The nipples may become tender during the first few days birth. This situation should improve daily. Breastfeeding should not be painful. Check the following table if you have sore nipples.
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Ask for help immediately if your nipples are sore even though the baby is well-positioned and feeding properly. |
The ideal time for the first feeding is within the first two hours following birth. Breast milk is all the baby needs during the first six months. After six months, begin to introduce solid foods while continuing to breastfeed for up to two years and beyond.
Now is a good time to set your own goals for breastfeeding. You have the natural ability to breastfeed, but you must learn how to do it correctly.
By setting goals, you are learning what to do. You can also decide how you are going to do it. By setting your goals in advance, you can then decide how you will achieve them.
Although breastfeeding is the natural way to feed your baby, that doesn't mean that you will know how to do it right away. Most mothers need information and support while breastfeeding especially during the first two months.
It is good to plan your support network ahead of time. Think about friends, members of your family, professionals, and any other person who will be able to help. It is also a good idea to determine how these people can support you during breastfeeding.
With the help of a support group, you will have
Keep in mind that your family and friends will offer advice whether you have asked or not. Some advice will be helpful, some not. Don't be afraid to ignore the advice that is not good for you. Thank them and do what you think is best for you and your baby.
Now is time to create this support group so you will be ready when your baby is born. Here are a few suggestions.