LIFE-CHANGING WAYS TO MAKE BREASTFEEDING EASIER!
LEARNING TO BREASTFEED IS A SKILL LIKE ANY OTHER, BUT SMALL CHANGES TO HOW YOU DO IT CAN MAKE A BIG DIFFERENCE! SIMONE CASEY CONSULTS THE EXPERTS TO MAKE LIFE EASIER FOR YOU AND BUB
In Australia, an impressive 96 per cent of new mums start breastfeeding when their babies are born, but it’s not always easy. In fact, the Australian Breastfeeding Association (ABA) is flooded with more than 8000 calls a month on its national 24-hour Breastfeeding Helpline (1800 686 268).
So, we’ve asked the questions and researched the answers, and here are some small but dramatic changes to make your life easier... I have cracked and sore nipples. What should I do? ‘While it can take a while to get accustomed to the sensations of breastfeeding, it shouldn’t be painful or cause trauma like cracks, bleeding or even pinching,’ says Rachel Fuller, a lactation consultant at Mildura’s Cocoon Parenting Support.
The most common reason for damaged nipples is incorrect attachment and this can be due to a number of reasons. When your baby is latched on well, make sure your nipple is right at the back of his mouth and his tongue will move along the breast, which means your nipple cannot be compressed.
‘Expressing a few drops of breastmilk after a feed, smearing it on your nipples and letting it dry can help, and some mums use a nipple cream such as hypoallergenic lanolin,’ says Rachel. If your nipples are badly damaged, you may need a prescription ointment, so make an appointment with your GP. How do I know if my new baby is getting enough milk? It’s tough to know how much they’re taking in when you can’t see! But there’s one easy way to gauge. ‘We have to trust that what goes in, must come out,’ says Gold Coast lactation consultant Shona Cassels. The only reliable way to tell whether your baby is getting enough milk is if, every day, she produces at least five wet nappies (if you use disposables, or six to eight wet cloth nappies), with clear urine and a good amount of soft, mustard-yellow poo.
Other signs are that your baby is generally happy and content, gaining weight and growing in length and head circumference (although not necessarily at the same time), and that she has good skin colour and muscle tone.
SHOULD I FEED ON DEMAND OR ON SCHEDULE?
Research tells us it is actually the baby who controls how much milk mums produce – when babies are feeding well and able to feed when they need to, mums are much less likely to have issues with milk supply. ‘Demand feeding is being led by your baby. I prefer the term “feeding according to need,”’ says Rachel. ‘Each mum and baby pair is unique – some babies like small, quick feeds, others have longer feeds. We know women have different milk storage capacities too – some will need to feed their baby more often in order to produce the amount of milk their baby needs.’
Scheduled feeding describes feeding your baby at regular times and sometimes even for a designated period of time. ‘While there may be some instances where this is helpful, scheduled feeding can be problematic as it rarely takes into account the needs of the baby or the mother,’ Rachel explains. A good example is to think about your own eating and drinking habits: ‘We rarely eat and drink at the same time every day and meals are not evenly spaced. Babies are the same,’ says Rachel.
MY BABY CLUSTER FEEDS IN THE EVENING. HELP!
While tiring, the frequent feeding pattern known as cluster feeding is completely normal. ‘Your baby knows when he is hungry and feeding frequently causes prolactin to be released – this is the milk-making hormone. The more frequently your breasts are drained, the more milk you will produce.’ Rachel encourages mums to try and make the most of this time and plan for it. When you know you will be stuck on the couch for a few hours, set yourself up with a good movie, phone and water. It’s much easier to accept if you aren’t making dinner or doing the washing.