Making Breastfeeding More Successful
Written by Carla Lowe - Friday, 24 October 2008
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 The majority of pregnant women and new mothers in this day and age seem to know that breastfeeding is the best thing they can do for their babies
, and many of them plan to nurse their newborns and continue for several months, up to six months, a year, or longer. However, a lot of women are not armed with the right knowledge to make breastfeeding work and to create a healthy, successful breastfeeding relationship. As a result, they give up too soon.
If you are pregnant and are committed to breastfeeding your baby or if you are currently breastfeeding your child and would like to continue doing so but are experiencing challenges, here is what you need to know to ensure breastfeeding is not only successful, but a positive experience for both you and your baby.
First, you need to understand that breastfeeding doesn’t automatically and “magically” happen, without a hitch. Both you and your baby need to learn how to do it and what works and what doesn’t in order to establish a breastfeeding relationship. Further, no breastfeeding experience is perfect. All mothers will experience some challenges. With that said, here are some tips for making it work, more successful, and last longer:
Start right away
The sooner you nurse your baby after he/she is born, the sooner you’ll be able to establish a breastfeeding relationship, help your baby latch, stimulate your breasts to produce milk, and generally get the hang of things. If possible, nurse your newborn within an hour or two after delivery.
Get help and support
Let’s face it: unless you have older children you’ve already nursed, you aren’t going to “instinctively” learn how to breastfeed your baby. Postpartum nurses, midwives, doulas, lactation consultants, and other breastfeeding specialists and experts can help you with learning how to position your baby properly and help him/her to latch on correctly.
Feed on demand
Feed your baby when he/she is hungry. This may sound like no-brainer advice, but you might be surprised how many mothers don’t do this, preferring instead to stick to a parent-dictated schedule in order to get their babies to sleep through the night before they’re ready to. If you follow your own schedule rather than your baby’s, you end up jeopardizing the breastfeeding relationship, which could lead to unnecessary problems as well as premature weaning.
Not sure how often to feed your baby or exactly when he/she is hungry? A general rule of thumb is that newborns like to nurse about every two to three hours; a total of 8-12 times within 24 hours. However, keep in mind that some babies nurse more frequently, many “cluster feed” (nursing several times within a few hours and then going a longer stretch in order to sleep), and all babies need to feed more often during growth spurts.
Signs your baby is hungry include “rooting” (“looking” for the breast by turning the head), making smacking or sucking sounds, putting hands or fists into the mouth, and generally being more awake, alert, and active. Feed your baby before he/she starts to cry; crying is a late sign of hunger and means your baby is starving, which can make latching on and the breastfeeding process more difficult.
Don’t supplement
Your baby doesn’t need solid foods until six months of age. Also, try to avoid giving your baby formula, water, or juice during this time - these liquids will just fill your baby up, and decrease the amount of breastmilk he/she takes, which, in turn, will reduce your supply.
If you need to have other people feed your baby (for example, if you’re going back to work or simply need a break), you can use a breast pump or your hand to express milk into a bottle. You can also pump if you’re away from your baby in order to keep up your supply.
Further, try to delay the use of pacifiers and bottles until the breastfeeding relationship is well established; generally, waiting a few weeks before introducing artificial nipples is best.
Keep in mind that your baby does not need extra nipples, provided his/her sucking and nutritive needs are being met through the breast.
Don’t diet
Although you may be desperate to lose that baby weight, dieting or restricting your caloric intake or a food group while breastfeeding can hinder your milk supply and also prevent your baby from getting all the nutrients he/she needs. You actually need just as many calories as you did while you were pregnant—maybe even more. It’s best to try to lose the weight slowly, and make sure you’re eating well-balanced meals and keeping hydrated.
Ignore breastfeeding myths
Breastfeeding myths on what you “must” and “can’t” do while nursing abound; get the facts before you decide that breastfeeding “just isn’t worth it.” Common myths, which are untrue, include:
- breastfeeding moms need to eat a very specific die
- breastfeeding moms need to consume lots of milk to make milk
- breastfeeding moms can’t drink any alcohol
- breastfeeding moms can’t take any over-the-counter or prescription drugs
- breastfeeding moms who experience nursing challenges should wean their babies
- breastfeeding moms with small breasts will produce less milk
- breastfeeding moms who get sick, have an infection, or have surgery should stop breastfeeding
- breastfed babies need to be supplemented in the first six months of life
Recognize breastfeeding problems and get help
It’s normal for breastfeeding relationships to go through rough patches; however, if you and your baby are going through a difficult time, this doesn’t mean you need to either “suck it up” or give up entirely—instead, get help!
Help can come in the form of breastfeeding resources and literature, online research, lactation consultants, public health nurses, and your and/or your baby’s doctor.
Here is a common list of nursing challenges that are both preventable and fixable:
- sore, painful nipples
- engorgement
- low milk supply
- overactive letdown
- thrush/yeast infections
- mastitis (go see your doctor right away)
- nursing strikes
- reflux
- food sensitivities and intolerances
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