Mothering through breastfeeding is the most natural and effective way of understanding and satisfying the needs of your new baby. Mother and baby need to be together early and often to establish a rewarding relationship and an adequate milk supply. In the early years your baby has an intense need to be with his mother which is as basic as his need for food. Human milk is the natural food for babies, uniquely meeting their changing needs.
One of the best ways to promote success in breastfeeding is immediate skin to skin to contact as soon as baby is born. Ideally, baby and Mama should have an uninterrupted first hour after birth skin to skin and breastfeeding. I had a hospital birth with an amazing midwife who allowed me to help catch my daughter as she was born. Birth is a miracle and for me it was empowering. I pulled her directly to my chest and she stayed there for almost two hours while she got used to be in the world.
The first hours after birth are vital to the development of the mother-baby bond and staying in contact with mom helps baby to regulate temperature, heart rate and breathing outside the womb. This special time is commonly known as the ‘golden hour’. Ask all visitors to respect your need to bond and establish breastfeeding. You should wait for at least one hour before introducing your newest family member to the rest of the family.
Thankfully, my daughter was born alert and strong. She immediately lifted and turned her head with wide eyes and was nuzzling around looking for my breast. I am very happy that she was nursing within the first 10 minutes after she was born and exclusively breastfed for the first six months before we introduced solid foods. She continued to nurse long after she started to eat solid food.
Not everyone is as blessed with a smooth delivery and blissful first breastfeeding experience, but do not give up if your birth experience was not how you had hoped. You can still have a wonderful enjoyable breastfeeding relationship with your little one. Ask for an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC) before you leave the hospital and follow their advice. IBCLC’s are specially trained to provide one on one personalized advice. A little reassurance goes a long way towards helping you be successful when you go home with your new baby.
Breastfeeding positions
One key factor in enjoying your breastfeeding relationship is comfort. Both Mama and baby will be happier and breastfeed better when you are are relaxed and comfortable. Breastfeeding shouldn’t be painful, not for your nipples or your back, neck and shoulders. There are several different positions in which you can comfortably breastfeed.
- Cradle
- Cross Cradle
- Underarm or Football hold
- Lying down/ Side Lying
- Laid Back
My daughter quickly decided her favorite way to eat was while laid back and your baby will likely have a favorite too. This short clip gives a brief explanation of each breastfeeding position.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_GyRUjHuofU
One of the biggest factors in your success is your attitude. Stay positive and relaxed and your milk will flow easier. Don’t get overwhelmed, it’s easier than it sounds, and you can do it!
Basic Steps for finding the best position:
No matter what position you choose to breastfeed, you should follow these steps for the best positioning.
1. Pick a spot and get comfortable! You need back support, pillows, or a ‘Boppy’ supporting your arms in your lap and a way to put your feet up. Ideally, you should be relaxed. If possible, have someone hand the baby to you once you are properly positioned and supported.
2. Position your baby close to you so that baby does not have to turn his/her head to reach your breast. His/her mouth and nose should be facing your nipple.
3. Support your breast with a C-hold or U-Hold so it is not pressing on your baby’s chin. If you have very large breasts you may try tucking a rolled up washcloth under your breast to lift it and make nursing easier on you both.
Video demo:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RGfiKQYUFXo
- Attach or latch baby onto your breast. Encourage him/her to open his/her mouth wide and then pull him/her close by supporting his/her upper back (rather than the back of the head) so that the chin drives into your breast. His/her nose will be touching your breast. Your second hand forms a “second neck” for your baby. Check it out:
5. Enjoy breastfeeding your baby! If you are feeling pain, detach baby gently and try again.
Be sure to stay hydrated while breastfeeding, keep fresh cool water nearby all the time. I have a YETI water bottle in my hand or sitting next to me at all times. Keeping it close will help you remember to drink more.
After Milk, It’s time to burp
After each breast be sure to burp your baby. Their tummy is still very tiny and even a small amount of gas can cause a lot of discomfort. If you don’t encourage them to release built up gas, they will cry when they become uncomfortable!
You can burp your baby on your shoulder or on your lap. Some babies will burp right away and easily, for others it may take a great deal of patting and patience as demonstrated here:
http://https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m50PTFmmlxw
What’s next…
Please stay tuned for the next installment of this series: Breastfeeding on Demand. I’ll also share support for breastfeeding wherever you are, even in public. Then we will troubleshoot some common breastfeeding problems so you have a great chance at success! In case you missed them be sure to check out the first two parts of this series: What is breastfeeding all about and Who should breastfeed and Why
Thanks for reading!
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