Guide to the milky way

Getting to grips with breastfeeding can be tricky. Here’s how to get it right from the start, and get help if you’re struggling

BREASTMILK IS FREE. Every mother can do it. So why is it that only 25 percent of South African mothers are still breastfeeding after their babies reach six months old? It may be the most natural thing in the world, but breastfeeding does not always come naturally. Here are the top tips to help you breastfeed successfully.

KEYS TO SUCCESS

So you’re keen to try breastfeeding: how can you make sure that it all goes as smoothly as possible? There are three key steps to getting breastfeeding right: getting off to a good start, a good grip (latching well), and an ideal position.

THE MAGIC HOUR

As long as there are no medical complications, your baby is ready to feed immediately after birth, and most babies will almost always latch onto your breast within the first hour of life. In fact, the best start is to place your baby skin-to-skin on your chest between your breasts (tummy to mommy) as soon as he is born. Many practitioners call this the magic hour, not only for bonding, but also for that very first feed. If your baby does not latch straight away, don’t panic. There’s no rush, especially with a full-term, healthy baby. Having your newborn skin-to-skin for as long as possible straight after birth sets the foundation for successful breastfeeding in the future.

GET A GRIP – A GOOD GRIP

One of the fundamentals of successful breastfeeding is getting your baby to latch correctly. An incorrect latch can mean a lot of nipple pain and an irritable, hungry baby: never a good combination. Some babies get the hang of it straight away, and others need a little bit of help. An effective latch is a deep latch, where your baby’s mouth opens wide enough to get a large amount of the areola – the darker circle of skin around the nipple – in. Help your baby to latch well by holding him close to your body with his tummy facing yours: tummy to tummy, and his nose level with your nipple.

Then, support your breast, holding it well back from the areola, while gently tickling his upper lip with your nipple until his mouth opens up wide, like he is yawning.

When he does, pull him in chin first, quick and close, so that he takes in as much of your breast as possible.

You will know that your baby has a good grip if he does not need to turn his head while he is feeding; his chin touches your breast, his lips are flared almost like fish- shaped lips, you see no or only a little areola sticking out from his lips, his ear wiggles slightly, and his jaw moves as he takes long, deep sucks.

You will also feel a deep tug that should not be painful, and you can clearly hear him swallowing with soft “ca- ca”-like sounds.

Once your baby has latched well, he will suck rapidly until the milk starts to

flow – the letdown – then he will settle into a rhythm of sucking, swallowing and breathing as his suck becomes slower, deeper and stronger.

HOLD ME, BABY

A relaxed mother means a relaxed baby, so get comfortable! While there are four conventional ways to hold and position your baby while breastfeeding, there are no hard and fast rules. As long as you’re comfortable and relaxed, and your baby is able to latch correctly, then you can hold your baby in any position you want and enjoy. ✓ Madonna or cradle hold: This is the most common hold. Hold your baby on your lap, tummy to tummy, with his head level with your nipple. Support his head in the crook of your arm, while the rest of your arm holds his neck, spine and bottom. If you find it comfortable, you can also rest your arm on the sides of the chair, or place a pillow or breastfeeding cushion underneath it. You can use your free hand to position your nipple into his mouth, while your supporting arm guides your baby towards your breast. ✓ Cross cradle: With this latch it’s easier to see how well your baby has latched onto your breast. And because of the extra support it provides, it is also useful for premmies. Hold baby tummy to tummy using the opposite arm to breast to hold him. Support the base of his neck with your fingers, and use your palm to hold his shoulder and upper back. ✓ Side-lying hold: This is a great position for night feeds, or for getting some rest during a day-time feed. It is also good if you have had a C-section or episiotomy, as it takes the pressure off your abdomen. You and your baby both lie on your sides, tummy to tummy, with his head level with your nipple. Rest your head on your hand, arm or a pillow, and you can use your free hand to guide your baby onto your nipple if needs be. ✓ Football hold: This is another hold that is useful if you have had a C-section, or if you have large breasts, flat or inverted nipples or a fast letdown, as you’re better able to control your baby’s position. Hold your baby on the side you’re going to feed him from, with his head level with your nipple and legs tucked up behind you, underneath your arm. Support your baby at the base of his neck and shoulders. YB