Guide to Breastfeeding Your New Baby, Mom Breastfeeds

Breastfeeding your new baby: Your infant and you are the winners when you breastfeed. This is a complete guide to breastfeeding your new baby. Guide includes the benefits of breastfeeding, pumping breast milk, directions for breastfeeding. Guide also includes the benefits to mother who breastfeeds, breastfed babies are healthier, and links to other articles on breastfeeding.

Breastfeeding can save families as much as $100 per month in formula costs. Breastfeeding can save families even more money by reducing medical costs for healthier mothers and healthier babies. Experts also agree that breastfeeding holds many other benefits for both the mother and infant.

It's true. Bottled milk does offer some advantages, such as extra sleep and more freedom to go out. However, the psychological benefits of breastfeeding far outweigh the psychological benefits of bottle feeding.

In addition to being more expensive, formula needs to be stored at the proper temperature, heated, measured and mixed. Many moms consider the preparation and storage advantages of breast milk reason alone to nurse their infants.

As for the extra sleep, breastfeeding moms quickly learn to sleep when the baby sleeps and then rouse themselves only lightly during the night.

Strong, early bonding of mother and child is another benefit breastfeeding offers both mother and child. Babies need contact with mother to become properly socialized.

2. New babies nurse about every two hours. However, they often nurse for many reasons other than hunger. Therefore, allow the newborn to nurse as often as he or she wishes.

3. If you must return to work, remember that baby can be nursed part-time or you can express milk for full-time breastfeeding.

No one can give better advice to a nursing mother, than a mother who has been there. Please click here to share your nursing experiences and advice with other nursing mothers.

When you want to. In some societies, the baby is not weaned until the third or fourth year. Traditionally, however, babies are weaned in most societies by some time in the second year.

Of ten people wean at a milestone. Say when the baby cuts her first tooth or takes his first step.

The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends breastfeeding for one year, although they say no harmful effects have been found from weaning after six months.

It is important to substitute cuddling and other attention for nursing, though, so mother and child will not miss the bonding the breastfeeding created.

The world loves a mother and her baby. If you are caught in a crowded situation with no really appropriate place to breastfeed your baby, approach the person in charge. He/he will normally move mountains to accommodate you! For more information about breastfeeding in public, click here.

4. I just had my first child and am breastfeeding her. What makes my breasts so sore?

When done correctly breastfeeding shouldn't cause a lot of pain. Although the average woman will experience some initial tenderness when she first begins to breastfeed, the tenderness should disappear after a week or two.

5. The hospital staff gave my baby many bottles in the hospital. They did not seem too interested in breastfeeding for my baby. Now I'm having trouble getting him to breastfeed. I thought it was natural for babies to breastfeed. Why am I having problems?

Breastfeeding is natural but may have to be learned, especially when your baby is given bottles in the hospital. The newborn who is first given a bottle has to configure his mouth differently and suck in an entirely different way than a newborn who breastfed from the beginning.

It's possible your breastfeeding experience would have been off to a smoother start if the hospital or birth center had encouraged breastfeeding. However, your baby can certainly be switched from bottles to breast when you keep offering the breast, possibly exclusively until he prefers to nurse. If you continue to have problems, seek help from a breastfeeding counselor or join a support group.

5. My husband and my mother can get my baby to take a bottle. Why won't she take one from me?

Babies are more likely to accept a bottle from anyone other than mother. When you try, your baby can smell your breast milk and even the youngest baby knows Mom has something better to offer than a bottle.

6. I have read mothers and babies are supposed to bond more quickly with breastfeeding. But I'm concerned that I don't have enough warm, fuzzy feelings when my baby breastfeeds. Is something wrong with me?

No. Everyone reacts differently. Some mothers are absolutely overwhelmed with love the first time they see or hold their baby. But most bonding and motherly feelings develop over time.

We will answer your questions about breastfeeding your baby whenever possible. We would also love to share your answers to other mothers. Please click here to share your breastfeeding answers with other nursing mothers.

If you think we are prejudiced for breastfeeding your child, you are correct.

If you have not decided to breastfeed your child, or need reinforcement for your decision, please consider the following:

Breastfed babies are healthier. Study after study shows breast milk contains a mother's antibodies against infections. These are passed along to her child.

Studies also show that breast milk protects babies and reduces the incidence of gas, intestinal distress, allergies, and ear and respiratory infections.

Breast milk appears to be a baby's first brain food. Breast milk contains a long chain of fatty acids with a composition that is very much like brain tissue. Thus, you are laying down the exact matrix in your baby's brain that is needed by human beings.

In addition, breast milk is exactly the right food psychologically for an infant. It insures contact with his/her mother, which the baby needs to become a social being.

Most mothers who successfully breastfeed their babies say the time investment is worth it. The creation of a special sense of closeness with their infant makes it all worthwhile.

There is some evidence that breastfeeding facilitates the mother's postpartum recovery and lessens the risk of breast cancer.

Nursing mothers say it gives them a great sense of private fulfillment to actually devote themselves to their babies. Many even say it enhances their self-esteem and confidence.

In short, breast milk provides the most complete, easily digested, convenient, and economical source of nourishment and closeness for your baby while also offering innumerable benefits for the mother.

Fortunately, most babies come into the world knowing how to breastfeed. If you get them anywhere close, they root around, get attached, and suck away. Others need a little help.

There are also mothers who need assurance they are "doing it right." Usually this lack of confidence comes from hearing other mothers' tales of failure and/or erroneous advice from well-meaning friends, relatives, and acquaintances plus the media's misinformation.

1. To nurse properly, your baby needs to open her mouth wide enough to take in the nipple and 1/4 inch to 1/2 inch of the colored area around the nipple.

2. Your free hand should be used to support your breast, keep it in the baby's mouth, and keep it out of the baby's nose. Use your fingers under the breast with your thumb on the top.

3. Hold the baby at your breast by positioning him on his side or tummy-to-tummy with his mouth at nipple level. During the first nursings, it is often helpful to remove clothing from mother and baby to be skin-to-
skin.

4. To help her get started, express the milk into her mouth. This encourages her to open wide, suck, and swallow.

5. As a general rule, you'll breastfeed your newborn eight to twelve times per day. Breastfeed your baby on demand, not by the clock. You don't want to let your baby get overly hungry, as he does not feed as well if you do.

6. Sucking does not equal eating. Check to see if your baby, who is sucking away like mad, is actually swallowing. Babies usually do some non-nutritive sucking. Watch for this.

7. Newborns usually suck one to three times, then swallow. Thus a new born who is sucking 15 minutes per breast, but not swallowing, is not receiving enough to eat and may need to breastfeed 20 to 25 minutes per breast to get enough to eat.

8. Be assured that you will produce enough milk. Breast milk contains chemicals call suppressor peptides. These chemicals automatically regulate how much breast milk is produced. Each time you take milk out, either by a nursing or pumping, your body will replace that milk and continue to do so as long as you nurse.

1. To nurse in public, wear clothing that allows easy access to your breasts with as little exposure as possible.

2. Don't wait until your baby is frantic and bawling to nurse. Crying babies attract attention to both of you.

3. Look at the eyes of people passing by and smile. This will draw attention away from your breasts. Looking at your baby will draw attention to your breasts.

4. Turn away from the public as much as possible. Use a blanket, magazine, or another person to screen you from view.

6. Practice at home, in front of a mirror. Once you realize how little people can really see, a flash of flesh if they are looking at just the right time, you will be more comfortable in public.

If you wish to breastfeed your baby and work, you will almost always end up pumping milk at work.

After you pick out a pump you like and can afford, and there are many choices, you will also need the following equipment:

Certainly your job dictates your attire at work. And where you will be able to pump dictates how much privacy you will have to dress and undress.

However, you can solve most of your problems by wearing clothing that buttons in front. Two piece outfits that button in front are ideal.

Good nursing bras that are convenient to open while offering good support are a must. Nursing pads that breathe and protect your clothes are necessary, too.

Clean, clean, clean! Scrub hands before pumping. Wash all pump parts that come in contact with milk in warm, preferably hot, water after each use. Wash bottles and pump parts contacting milk in dishwasher once per day for sterilizing.

Refrigerate milk as soon as possible after pumping, even though, in a bind, it can be left at room temperature for up to six hours before it begins to break down.

Frozen milk can be kept for up to four months in a freezer that has a separate door from the refrigerator. Milk must be frozen within 24 hours of pumping.

Defrosted milk should be used immediately or refrigerated for up to 24 hours.

Nurse and pump frequently because your breasts respond to use to produce milk. The more you pump (or breastfeed), the more milk you will produce.

If you need to supplement your breast milk with formula, consider diluting breast milk with formula rather than alternating the two.

Never add warm milk on top of frozen milk. Cool milk before adding fresh milk to frozen milk.

If your job/lifestyle requires travel while you are nursing, continue to pump as often as you can. If you can simulate your life at home, all the better. You will probably need to discard the milk unless you have a short trip and a way to freeze and store frozen milk.

Your milk production will probably decrease over the course of a two plus day trip. When you return, you will need to build your milk production up again. Travel and leaving your baby in general becomes easier after your baby is six months old and supplementing his/her diet with solid foods.

There is probably no harm in an older child watching mom nurse. If, however, it makes you uncomfortable, nurse discreetly so the child does not pick up your discomfort.

If the older child catches a glimpse, stares, or reaches out to touch, don't overreact. You don't want to give a child the feeling there is something shameful or unclean about the human body or its functions.

Exhibitionism is another story, however. It could lead to stimulation or unhealthy attitudes toward sexuality.

The time you spend breastfeeding your baby is a good time to spend game playing or in another quiet activity with the older child.

When the older child asks for breast milk, too, you may be puzzled about how to handle it. Explaining this is baby food and does not even taste good to children may suffice. Offer to give him/her a glass of milk or juice while you feed the baby. If you express milk, a small glass of expressed milk will probably be the cure. Again, offer extra attention while you are nursing.

If you are comfortable in offering milk from the breast to a young child, under three or four years of age, do so. The amount of work necessary to get milk out of the breast coupled with the warm, watery taste should be all it takes to solve your problem.

A child older than four should probably not be allowed to taste milk directly from mother's breast but can taste expressed milk. Be assured breast milk does not taste good.

Again, giving the older child attention while you are breastfeeding and plenty of hugging and cuddling while you are not helps the older child get over a feeling of "attention deprivation" that often accompanies the birth of a younger child.

Try reading, playing a game, working a puzzle, or just cuddling with the other arm. This is usually what the older child really wants after the first curiosity is satisfied.

The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) now recommends breast milk as the preferred source of feeding for almost all babies for at least the first year of life.

In a new policy from a recent issue of the journal of the AAP, Pediatrics, the American Academy of Pediatrics cites that research indicates that breastfeeding provides advantages unmatched by other feeding options and that human milk feeding ensures the best possible developmental and psychological development for infants.

1. Breastfeeding within the first hour of life or as soon as possible thereafter.

4. Breastfeeding on demand. Paying attention to hunger signs other than crying such as rooting, mouthing, increased alertness or activity.

5. Breastfeeding exclusively for the first six months of life, then adding solid foods.

Barry Sears, a pioneer in biotechnology, holds twelve patents for cancer treatments and dietary control of hormonal responses. In a book written with Bill Lawren entitled Enter the Zone, Dr. Sears writes, "It takes about six months after birth before the delta 6 desaturase enzyme reaches full activity. During this period the essential supplies of GLA (which the infant still can't make effectively) comes only from mother's breast milk. This explains why breast-fed babies invariably are healthier and leaner than bottle-fed babies. They have a higher dietary intake of GLA."

Sears explains that GLA is considered an "activated" essential fatty acid because very small amounts fill the metabolic pipelines that allow the body to make other activated essential fatty acids.

What does this scientific talk mean to mothers? That you are giving your baby one more push toward a healthy start in life by breast feeding!

Breastfeeding Pure & Simple by Gwen Gotsch.

Starting with the words, "Mothers agree; it's worth it," Gwen Gotsch takes breast feeding from why mothers breastfeed, through all the stages of breast feeding your child, right through weaning. It covers all the bases from fathers to other generations to mothers returning to work. This admirable reference book is probably the best one for new mothers, making it an excellent new-mom and new-dad gift. But despite the thoroughness of the book, it is short and easily read in an afternoon or two, a real plus for busy and sleepy new moms. The book was published by La Leche League International following their commitment to helping breastfeeding women everywhere....book review continued

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Review Breastfeeding Pure & Simple

The best thing about this book is that is thorough. It takes new moms and soon-to-be moms from A to Z in breast feeding.

The second best thing about this book is that it is well-illustrated.

Note: The opinions expressed herein are exclusively those of the writers and do not necessarily reflect the position of CyberParent. They are not intended to take the place of advice of a health, legal, or other professional whose expertise you might need to seek.