Guide and tips for new moms on breastfeeding basics
Breastfeeding can be quite challenging and overwhelming for new mothers. In this blog, I share my complete guide and tips for new moms on breastfeeding basics. Read along to learn the best way to prepare for breastfeeding, how to keep a good milk supply, and how to troubleshoot common issues on your breastfeeding journey.
What are the benefits of breastfeeding?
Breastfeeding is highly beneficial for the new moms as well as for the newborn babies.
Benefits for newborn baby
Breast is best. Did you ever hear that sentence? Over millennia babies were breastfed only. According to this article infant formula started to become popular in the 1950s. The first successful attempts to produce something like infant formula were midst the 19th century but with all efforts breastfed babies were much more likely to survive than formula-fed babies. But why was that?
Breast milk provides all the nutrients your baby needs. That’s why the World Health Organization recommends exclusively breastfeeding babies until they are 6 months old and then continuing to breastfeed until they are 2 years old or even longer.
It is so beautiful to think about the fact that your breast milk is the most natural way to feed your baby. Breast milk changes with time to adjust to your baby’s needs. Breastfed babies have a lower risk of infection, diarrhea, and vomiting. It is also less likely that your baby gets so sick that you have to go to a hospital when you breastfeed your new baby. That’s because your body sends antibodies through your breast milk to your baby to strengthen your baby’s immune system.
A breastfed baby also has a lower risk of sudden infant death syndrome. We are not sure yet how breastfeeding protects newborn babies from sudden infant death syndrome, but this article suggests that it is because babies wake up more easily when they are breastfed than when they are formula-fed.
Lastly according to this research breastfed babies are less likely to get overweight later in life.
Benefits for the breastfeeding mom
But breastfeeding is not only good news for your newborn baby. There are many benefits for new moms when they choose to breastfeed.
In the early days breastfeeding leads to uterine contractions. Those after-birth pains can be very tough, especially with your second or subsequent births. Even though that doesn’t sound like an advantage, they are not useless. According to this research, those uterine contractions reduce bleeding after birth and therefore will help you in your postpartum recovery.
Breastfeeding also burns calories. Some sources suggest that you burn up to 2000 calories a day in the first week of breastfeeding and later up to 500 calories a day until six months postpartum. That can be a boost for your postpartum weight loss journey.
Another interesting benefit is that breastfeeding can reduce your risk of breast cancer and even ovarian cancers later in life. This research suggests that the hormonal changes during breastfeeding are beneficial and protective against those cancers.
But the most important benefit in my opinion is the special bonding time you can have with your baby through breastfeeding. If you have a difficult time breastfeeding and read this hang on, it gets better and more beautiful every month. Keep reading about my best breastfeeding tips when it comes to latch, milk supply, baby’s growth, and much more.
How to get a good latch
Sometimes breastfeeding can be painful and results in cracked or sore nipples. Mostly that is when you don’t have a proper latch. Latching is how the baby’s mouth is attached to the breast while breastfeeding. Getting a good latch can be very challenging in the early days but there are things you can do as a new mom to improve the latch of your baby.
Make sure your baby takes a good part of your nipple into her mouth. There are different techniques to let your baby open his mouth wide enough. When you hold the baby’s head in the right position close to your breast she might just latch on her own. If she doesn’t open her mouth wide enough you can try to position her head in a way that her nose touches your nipple. Now your baby is forced to open his mouth wide to reach the nipple.
The baby’s lips should be visible and turned outwards, almost as if you are forming a fish mouth. When your baby is latched check on his lips. If they are sucked in you can apply a little pressure on babies chin or upper lip to get the lips into the right position.
It can be a good idea to practice this together with your care provider in the first days after birth.
How do I know that my baby gets enough milk?
There are a few things where you can see that your baby is getting enough milk:
- Baby’s growth
- Wet diapers
- Hunger cues
Baby’s growth
So firstly babies should grow. That means that they have proper weight gain and that the baby’s head is growing as it should be. When you are worried that your baby is not getting enough milk because of baby’s growth keep in mind that they don’t grow in a straight line. Your baby can have a growth spurt where they cluster feed and nurse a lot and then more quiet phases in between. Check with your care provider if you worry about your baby’s weight gain.
This however is not the only factor you should take into consideration.
As new moms, we can worry quite a bit about the weight of our babies. Our baby did not gain enough weight during her whole first year of life. But we saw that everything else was just fine, and both we as new parents and our healthcare provider agreed that she was light and fine. So try to trust your baby and that he will take what he needs to grow.
Wet diapers
You also can count if your baby has enough dirty diapers. That can be a tricky one especially since diaper sizes and the definition of a wet diaper can vary. But generally speaking, a newborn baby should have as many wet diapers as days she is old in the first week and then at least 6 diapers in the first months of her life.
Hunger cues
Lastly, you can see if your baby has any hunger cues. When your baby shows no signs of hunger he might just be satisfied and full. Hungry babies might be more alert, sucking on their hands or licking their lips. They might also turn their head looking for your breast and finally start crying. When your baby is relaxed and quiet she most likely has a full belly. Whenever you feel that your baby is hungry you can offer a nursing session. If they drink only a little or are not interested at all in your breast that usually also means that they are full.
How does my milk production work?
When you give birth oftentimes you can have your baby on your chest for the first hour. That golden hour is a great time to get to know this tiny little human for the first time but also to establish breastfeeding for the first time. In the beginning, you will have very little milk with a yellow color. It is called colostrum and sometimes referred to as liquid cold. Colostrum is packed with nutrients and sustains your baby the first days until your mature breastmilk comes in. This first milk is everything your baby needs, even though it’s only a few drops at a time. Babies have a very small stomach when they are born and cannot hold more than a few milliliters at a time.
Somewhere in the first week, your milk will come in. You will notice that your baby is swallowing more and you might even feel the milk flow. Usually around the 3rd day. Through the sucking of your baby, your breast sends the signal to your brain that the hormones for milk production should be released. Therefore it is very beneficial for a good milk supply to let your baby drink often during early days.
For the first two weeks, you will produce what is called transitional milk. Something in between colostrum and mature breast milk. Your milk will get lighter every day until you reach that typical white milk color.
How can I keep up my supply?
According to this research perceived low milk supply was one of the top reasons for new mothers to stop breastfeeding earlier than they planned. It is really difficult to say though how much milk you have. Some mothers measure their babies before and after breastfeeding. That does say how much milk the baby drank in this nursing session but that amount might be very different in different nursing sessions.
Another way to measure the amount of milk that’s in your breasts is by pumping until your breasts feel empty. This is also not always accurate because your baby is much more capable of emptying your breast than your breast pump is.
Therefore I would not trust those methods fully when you judge your milk supply. If you worry about your supply talk to a location consultant or a health care professional who is pro breastfeeding. Together you can assess if your baby meets the criteria of a baby that gets enough breast milk.
These 5 things can help you get your supply up when you feel that it dropped too low:
- Skin-to-skin contact
- Breastfeed often on both sides
- Power pump (imitation of cluster feeding but then with the pump)
- Lactation teas and cookies
- Rest and stop worrying
With everything keep in mind that the milk supply is regulated through demand. The more your baby wants to drink, the more your body produces. Therefore trying to rest and think about other things than your supply will most likely already do the trick.
Breastfeeding position
Finding a good position to breastfeed can help to keep breastfeeding up. Generally speaking, there are three different breastfeeding positions you should try.
1. Cradle hold
2. Football hold
3. Breastfeeding while lying down
Try to find the most comfortable position for you and your baby. When your baby sucks the greatest sucking is where their chin lays. Using different positions can ensure that all the milk ducts in your breast get emptied.
Let’s talk about pumping
If you want your baby to drink your breast milk but you are not home all the time pumping can be your solution. There are a few things you should consider when pumping.
- Pump every time your baby would otherwise nurse
- Use a high-quality breast pump to empty your breasts completely
- Use only clean or sterilized items
- Try to pump in a quiet environment and relax for best results
Common issues with breastfeeding
Breastfeeding can be a beautiful moment of bonding between the new mom and newborn baby. But often it doesn’t start that way and many times there are issues along the way.
Amongst the most common issues are nipple soreness, clogged milk ducts, and trouble latching.
Don’t hesitate to ask your nurses, midwives, or other healthcare professionals in the hospital to help you with the initial nursing. To a certain degree, it is normal to have sore nipples. Your skin is not used to constant sucking yet. This will disappear within two weeks of nursing.
Another reason for painful breastfeeding that is normal is an uncomfortable sensation for the first few seconds of your baby latching. This pain should never stay longer than a minute.
If you experience any other pain you most likely have to correct the latch of your baby. If that doesn’t work try to get in contact with a lactation consultant as soon as possible.
Clogged milk ducts happen fairly often, especially in the early weeks when your milk supply is not regulated yet. When you feel that a part of your breast gets painful, red, swollen, or hard you might have a clogged milk duct. Try to massage the painful spot until it is more tender. Warmth can help to unclog the duct too. When you are done with the massage and warmth feed your baby at this breast. Try to choose a breastfeeding position where the chin of your baby aims the sore spot.
How can I prepare for breastfeeding?
It can be a good idea to visit a breastfeeding class before you give birth. Many first-time mothers prepare well for pregnancy and birth but forget that breastfeeding is also a learned skill.
Two general resources provide great and detailed information on breastfeeding:
- La leche league
- American academy of pediatrics
Check out their resources to prepare for breastfeeding but also to navigate any trouble breastfeeding.
Items you need for breastfeeding
There is a small list of items I would recommend you buy before your baby arrives.
- Nursing bras
- Silverettes
- Nursing pads
- Breast pump
- Bottle
- Comfortable chair or rocking chair
Some new moms love their breastfeeding pillow but believe me when I say that every pillow you already own is good enough to do the job.
The most important thing you can do to keep your baby healthy is to care for your health. Therefore try to keep a balanced diet. Additionally, it can be good to take your prenatal vitamins postpartum too. After all, you are still sustaining the same life that was in your belly first.
Quick summary of the basics of breastfeeding for first-time moms
- Breastfeeding is the best nutrition for your baby.
- It is beneficial for the health of your baby but also for the health of the new mom
- A good latch is the one thing that prevents most breastfeeding troubles
- Your baby gets enough milk when it grows sufficiently, produces enough wet diapers, and shows no hunger cues.
- Don’t stress too much about a low milk supply. Usually, babies take what they need. If you worry or things seem off, contact a healthcare provider that is pro-breastfeeding.
- Lots of skin-to-skin contact and frequent nursing sessions will boost your supply.
- Different nursing positions can offer comfort and empty your breasts.
- Use a good and clean breast pump and pump as often as baby nurses.
- Get rid of clogged milk ducts by warmth, massaging, and feeding your baby after that.
- If you have any issues, don’t hesitate to contact a lactation consultant.
- Prepare yourself for breastfeeding by reading information and buying the most necessary items.
- Caring for your health means caring for your baby’s health even after birth.
I hope that this guide helps you to a beautiful breastfeeding journey. You got this mama!
Do you have any problems, questions, or breastfeeding tips? Write them in the comments below I would love to read all about them!
