Breastfeeding 101
The first rule of breastfeeding is to forget everything that you’ve ever been told. Most new moms have either heard breastfeeding horror stories from their friends or had people tell them how easy it was to nurse their baby. The reality is probably somewhere in between.
Your experience is unique. Your baby is different than every other. Every mom and baby have to learn how to breastfeed from scratch. Even if you have nursed a baby before, your baby has never breastfed before and he needs to go through the process of learning how to eat.
It is best to begin breastfeeding shortly after birth. If this is not possible due to complications or other factors do not stress about it. For one thing, stress will make it harder to nurse your baby and for another, babies have a natural sucking reflex and can be taught to breastfeed successfully at a later time.
Baby’s First Meal
Do not be discouraged if the first few nursing sessions do not go well. Your baby is born with a reserve of food and does not need to eat right away. The main goal in the early hours of breastfeeding is to introduce your baby to the breast.
Colostrum is the yellowish substance that your body makes before your milk comes in. It may not seem like your baby is getting enough to eat with such small amounts, but colostrum has been described as liquid gold. It is nutrient dense and packed with antibodies that your baby needs.
Just as a newborns lungs are learning to breathe for the very first time, a newborns digestive system is also learning to work. Your baby is not ready to take in large amounts of food. The tiny amount of colostrum that they receive is just right for their immature digestive system.
Establishing Your Milk Supply
The more you breastfeed in the first few days after birth, the sooner your milk will come in. If you are concerned that your milk is not coming in fast enough, pumping can speed up the process. Breastfeeding is a supply and demand relationship. The more milk you express, either through breastfeeding or pumping, the more your body will create.
At first it may seem like you have too much milk or not enough. As breastfeeding is established your milk supply will eventually adjust to match your baby’s needs.
No Pain No Gain?
If breastfeeding is painful, chances are your baby is not latched on correctly. Despite what you may have heard, breastfeeding should not hurt. You may be sore as your newly functional breasts adjust, but you should not have pain.
Lactation consultants are available in the hospital to help you teach your baby to latch on correctly. You may feel a small pinching sensation as your baby latches on but that should go away quickly. If the pain continues, insert your finger into your baby’s mouth to release their suction and try having them latch on again.
Take Time to Adjust
The first few weeks are the hardest. Give yourself some time to adjust. The majority of mothers have a wonderful experience with breastfeeding. Not only are you giving your baby some fabulous health benefits, but you are facilitating bonding with your baby and gaining many health benefits for yourself.
Take breastfeeding one day at a time and before you know it, nursing your baby will become second nature.
