Breast Feeding Guidance

Breastfeed is a wonderful decision for you and your baby. Breast milk provides complete nutrition for your infant and helps to prevent illness. Babies who do not breastfeed have more ear infections and diarrhea than breastfed babies. Breastfed babies have fewer trips to the pediatrician for common childhood illnesses, have fewer allergies, a lower risk of obesity and diabetes, reduced risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), and higher IQ’s than formula-fed babies. There are also benefits for the mother who breastfeeds. There is less ovarian and breast cancer and osteoporosis in breastfeeding mothers compared to formula-feeding mothers. Breastfeeding helps with postpartum weight loss, delays fertility, increases a mother’s self-confidence and promotes bonding. With breast milk, there is no wasted formula and no cost. Breastfeeding is convenient because the milk is always ready and at the right temperature. Breast milk is different from formula because it changes to meet the nutritional needs of your child as he grows. Breast milk contains all the vitamins and minerals your baby needs and is easy to digest. For all of these reasons, the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that infants be fed only breast milk for the first six months of life. Babies do not need water, juice or formula. At six months you may offer your baby solid foods, but you should continue to breastfeed until your baby is at least a year old. Babies who switch to table food and whole cow’s milk when they are a year old will never need infant formula. How do I get started? The first few weeks of breastfeeding, your baby needs to breastfeed frequently to establish your milk supply. Most babies will breastfeed at least eight times in a 24-hour period. Recent research shows that babies usually have 11 breastfeeding sessions per day if you count feedings on each breast separately. The actual number can range from 7 to 19 sessions daily when each breast is counted as a feeding. The key to successful breastfeeding is the way you position and latch your baby onto the breast. You should hold the baby “tummy to tummy” so that there is no space between your body and your baby. The baby needs to be facing the breast. Please make sure not to press on the back of the baby’s head. For correct latch-on, your baby needs to open his mouth wide enough to take both the nipple and some of the areola (the dark area around the nipple) into his mouth. The corners of the baby’s mouth should be at a wide angle and both his upper and lower lips should be outside his mouth. Support your breast with your hand during the feeding. Make sure that your fingers are way back behind the areola and make sure not to press inward on your breast. This position will help your baby to get the most milk and you will be less likely to have sore nipples. Signs of a poor latch: Your nipples are sore during the whole feeding, or are cracked or bleeding Your nipples are creased or slanted when the baby comes off the breast When the baby sucks you hear clicking or smacking sounds The baby is coming off the breast repeatedly after only a few sucks The baby’s cheeks are dimpling in with each suck The baby acts hungry all the time after nursing The baby has less than 6-8 wet diapers