By Tiffany Lipelt
No matter what class you take or how many lactation specialists you visit before giving birth to your baby, you're never quite prepared for the rewards or pains of nursing. The bond created between mother and child when you snuggle in for an evening feeding is beyond measure. Even if "latching on" is a struggle or your baby is a wiggle worm, those few minutes of quiet cuddling are well worth the first 2-3 weeks of unsure effort.
Not to scare you, but your soft skin is not quite ready for the intense vacuum a baby can possess, unless of course you have been submitting yourself to torture. With that said, don't be fearful, there are a few "tricks of the trade" about latching on that proves nursing should not be painful and empower you to feel prepared for breast-feeding. Knowing what to expect, pointers to make it easier, how to take care of yourself nutritionally, as well as the ins and outs of pumping and storing breast milk, can prime you to go with the flow. You provide the baby; we supply you with the knowledge to make nursing easier!
The basics
Research has shown time and again breastfed babies are less prone to illnesses because of the protective substances in human milk. The American Academy of Pediatrics lists ear infections, allergies and meningitis among many other problems that a breastfed baby is less likely to develop. Benefits for you as a mom include: reducing the risk of ovarian cancer, building bone strength and helping return the uterus to its regular size. Knowing breast milk is a great option, however, and knowing what to expect is different. You should know the basics about what happens from day one on.
At the start, you'll be producing colostrum, small amounts of fluid that provide your baby with important antibodies she can't produce and helps to empty baby's digestive system of excess mucus. While at the hospital you should be provided with a lactation consultant, if requested. You should be comfortable with positioning the baby, tricks to getting the baby to nurse and knowing the proper way of latching on. Latching on is key; it is the difference between sore nipples, a satisfied baby and a well-established supply of milk. Ask a lot of questions and make sure you're completely comfortable with how to position baby before heading home. On the 3rd or 4th day your colostrum will change and your milk will come in (what looks like nonfat milk). You should expect "unruly breasts" until a supply-and-demand system is established between you and the baby (a couple of weeks). There can be leakage and possible engorgement.
From one mother to another
There are a few things only another mother will tell you about, like you may feel you're a 24-hour take out restaurant with all the nursing that lies ahead. Other moms can give you ideas on how to make the idiosyncrasies of nursing easier. Here are some tips from one mother to another:
- Sore nipples. To relieve discomfort that the early part of nursing brings, rub breast milk on the nipple and let dry. Your milk is a natural emollient. Expose your nipples to the air when possible and pat dry before putting your bra and breast pads back on. Don't use plastic lined pads because they prevent air from circulating around your nipples.
- First weeks hardest. After two or three weeks, your baby should settle into an eating pattern and the two of you, together, will have figured out the process of nursing.
- Night feedings. When the baby wakes for a feeding, nurse lying in your bed or in a very comfortable chair so you can doze. Try to keep the room dark and quiet.
- Is she eating enough? You will not be able to tell how much your baby is consuming in ounces, so for the first couple of weeks count diapers. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends at least 6 wet ones and 2-5 poopy ones. Weight is also a great determinant. A steady weight gain is important after the first week of age. Your baby will also be weighed in once a month at well-baby check ups with your pediatrician. The doctor will let you know if the baby is getting adequate nourishment.
Mommy food to baby food
Your post-pregnancy diet doesn't have to be as strict as while your baby was in the womb, however, you do have to maintain a level of restraint as your baby is still counting on you for the vitamins she needs to grow. You don't want to begin to cut calories at this point; in fact, you may want to increase your intake to approximately 500 calories higher than your pre-pregnancy requirements. This may vary as your baby grows and demands more milk, so if your weight begins to plummet, increase your daily intake. If your milk supply falls behind your babies needs, this may be another indicator of low-caloric ingestion. This is not the time to diet!
The carbohydrate, protein and fat composition in your milk is not linked directly to what you eat. If you're low in areas, such as protein, your body's stores will be tapped to feed the baby what she needs. That is until you're tapped out, so don't depend on your body to keep up if you're not nourishing it. (Note: some vitamin deficiencies can come across in the milk.)
Here are a few other tips about food for the nursing mom:
- Avoid certain foods. Your baby might have a discriminating palate and react to certain foods you eat. Some of the common baby offenders are: garlic, onion, cabbage, broccoli, chocolate, or dairy products. Very spicy or highly seasoned food may also be bothersome to baby. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that you do a "24-hour test" since food aversions have similar symptoms to colic. See if the fussy, crying behavior is short lived or last for longer than 24 hours or days at a time (which would point to colic). If you notice your baby gets these symptoms every time you eat a certain food, discontinue eating it.
- Take a vitamin supplement. A vitamin formulated for pregnant or lactating mothers is important in your daily diet. Check with your physician to see if your prenatal vitamin can transition to post-baby.
- Stick to your pregnancy rules. Keep your fluids up by drinking at least eight glasses of water per day and continue to avoid smoking, alcohol, medications and recreational drugs, caffeine, and raw & certain types of fish.
Pump away!
Time to go back to work or just need to get out? A breast-pump can be your best friend. Pumps range from industrial strength electric to a small hand pump. Depending on how often you plan to express will be your guide to which to purchase. All pumps are relatively easy to use if you follow the directions they provide.
Storage of the milk is top priority. Breast milk is fragile and should be treated as perishable food. Here are some guidelines set forth by the American Academy of Pediatrics about storing and preparing milk:
- Always wash your hands before handling milk
- Use a clean, storage tight container for your milk. Do not use ordinary plastic storage bags or formula bottle bags.
- Use sealed and chilled milk within 24 hours if possible. Discard all milk that has been refrigerated more than 72 hours.
- Freeze milk if you will not be using it within 24 hours. Frozen milk is good for at least 1 month (3 to 6 months if kept in a zero-degree freezer).
- Freeze 2 to 4 ounces at a time (the average feeding portion).
- Do not add fresh milk to previously frozen milk in a storage container.
- You can thaw milk in the refrigerator or more quickly in a warm bowl of water.
- Do not use microwave ovens to heat bottles because they do not heat them evenly. Uneven heating can easily scald your baby or damage the milk. Excess heat can destroy important proteins and vitamins in the milk.
- Milk thawed in the refrigerator must be used within 24 hours.
- Do not re-freeze your milk.
- Do not save milk from a used bottle for use at another feeding.
- Milk will separate during storage. Don't worry, this is natural, just shake and serve!
Figure it out together
We can give you facts about breast-feeding but the first rule is go with the flow. Nursing might be a breeze or it might be difficult; you never can tell. The good news is there is always help. If you have questions or find that it is not going smoothly, talk with your practitioner or the local nursing organization, such as the La Leche League. Remember to listen to your baby and yourself, you'll figure out together what works best for you as mother and child.
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