Get the basics right

Breastfeeding your baby will give her a great start in life. It’s important to know how to do it, and why it’s so good for her.

Your baby benefits from the perfect formula at the right temperature, ”on tap”. Breast milk supplies proteins for brain development and immunity against infections. It also lines the gut to minimise the risk of allergies when solids are introduced. There are benefits for you too, as you will burn 1 000 calories every day just from breastfeeding. This means that you will lose extra weight gained during your pregnancy. Breastfeeding also minimises post-natal bleeding (and depression), strengthens bonding with your baby and completes the breast duct maturation process that begins in the third trimester of your pregnancy. Studies have shown that this maturation process provides significant protection against breast cancer.

Starting in the first few days after birth, your breasts will feel soft, and you’ll probably not feel like you have anything to give your baby. This is not so. Colostrum is a thick super-sweet creamy brightyellow liquid, also called ”first milk”. This ”starter milk” is rich in calories, antibodies and highly specialised proteins. It’s high in carbs and gives your baby energy to recover from the birth and keep warm, and also prepares the gut for feeding by cleaning out the debris that collected there during the pregnancy – namely meconium, or baby’s first stool.

The fact that your breasts do not ”fill up” with colostrum benefits your baby, as it’s easier to grasp the nipple and areola (brown area surrounding the nipple) when your breasts are soft. In this way, your baby will learn to latch and feed. Mature breast milk comes in about the second or third day. When this happens, your breasts will feel full – a new sensation for you. It’s important to wear a good supporting (not underwired) breastfeeding bra. Adjust the straps for extra support. Feeding your baby often will relieve discomfort, as this prevents the ducts from becoming blocked and avoids engorged breasts. If your breasts get too full, ”breast milk fever”, or mastitis, could result.

It’s important that your baby has, by now, learnt to latch correctly, as this will protect the highly sensitive erectile tissue of your nipple and ensure Baby gets a steady flow of milk and nutrition.

EASY LATCHING

■ Feed your baby often on the day your milk ”comes in”, as this will prevent them from becoming rock hard and make it very difficult for your baby to latch.

■ Soften your breasts if they’re feeling uncomfortably full by bathing them in hot water before you start feeding.

■ Sit comfortably, surrounded by soft cushions and a small stool for your feet.

■ Feed your baby till she lets go of your breast naturally. Do not pull her off your breast.

■ Place cold cabbage leaves on your breasts (inside your bra) after the feed, and leave them there till the next feed.

■ Repeat the above as often as you need to for a few days after your milk comes in.

NO PREPARATION NEEDED – REALLY!

There is no need to toughen or prepare your nipples for breastfeeding. Prominent ”pimples” on the areola called Montgomery glands lubricate the nipple. Nipple cream should be used sparingly because it could block these glands, making them swell up and hurt. Prevent sore cracked nipples by positioning your baby correctly and getting her to latch properly.

TO PREVENT WIND WHEN BREASTFEEDING

■ Be sure that your baby latches correctly and also that she is suckling.

■ Don’t keep her waiting for a feed when she is hungry.

■ If your milk flows particularly fast when the let-down reflex is released, lie back while you’re feeding. The best way to do this is with your baby lying against your reclined breast so that she feeds against gravity.

■ In the early weeks, it’s important to breastfeed on both sides to stimulate your milk supply.

GROWTH SPURTS

Growth spurts occur at about 10 days, 3 weeks, 6 weeks, 3 months and 6 months. This means that demand is greater than supply, so your body has to adjust to making more milk and quickly. You may wonder if your milk supply has weakened or if you’ll ever be able to make enough milk for your baby. The best thing to do is to feed more often. This will soon increase the supply.

WHAT TO DO WHEN THIS HAPPENS?

■ Feed more often.

■ Pay attention to your diet, possibly including extra drinks and proteinrich snacks.

■ Rest and spend the day feeding your baby.

EXPRESSING

Generally, you don’t need to express in the first four to six weeks while breastfeeding is being established, but there may be circumstances when you need to express, for instance:

■ TO KEEP MILK FLOWING if you’re separated from your baby. If she’s admitted to ICU and you’re sent home, you can make sure, by expressing, that she continues getting breast milk, and you can maintain production while you’re waiting to be reunited. Because you will have kept up your breast milk production by expressing, you’ll be able to breastfeed once you’re back together.

■ TO IMPROVE SUPPLY. The more your baby drinks, the more milk you make. Expressing after a feed keeps up the supply and gives you a useful stock of milk for topping up feeds.

■ TO RELIEVE ENGORGEMENT. When you do this, express very gently so that you don’t bruise your breasts.

■ TO FEED YOUR BABY. Babies who are ill, jaundiced or have a congenital abnormality of the mouth and/or throat may need to be tube-fed with expressed breast milk for a while.