More than 20 years of research has shown numerous benefits of breastfeeding for both mother and her infant. According to the experts, it is one of the best things you can do for your baby. If you decide to breastfeed, here are some helpful tips to get you off to a good start.
After you deliver, your baby should be placed on your chest or abdomen. The position that you use to breastfeed will depend on whether you had a vaginal delivery or a cesarean delivery. The nurse at the hospital can help you determine which position works best for you.
Once you are ready to begin, follow these steps from the American Academy of Family Physicians:
Before you give birth, try to learn as much about breastfeeding as possible. Follow these tips for successful breastfeeding:
Feed your baby as often as he or she wants to be fed. Breastfed babies usually feed more often than formula-fed babies. This is because human milk is more easily digested than formula.
Your baby may feed 8 to 12 times a day or more. Many newborns nurse as often as every two hours, regardless of whether it is day or night. Let your baby feed on demand—not on a strict schedule. Later, the baby will be able to hold more milk and go for longer times between feedings, settling into a more predictable pattern.
Do not let your baby sleep through feedings until your milk supply has been developed. This usually takes about two to three weeks.
According to the American Academy of Family Physicians, signs that your baby is getting enough milk include:
Most importantly, a breastfeeding mom needs to eat a well-balanced diet. You need to be eating fruits and vegetables, whole grain breads and cereals, meats or beans, and milk and dairy foods.
It is essential that you get plenty of calcium. For a woman who is breastfeeding, the calcium recommendations are:
You will need to increase your overall calories—about 500 calories a day more than you usually consume. And it is important that you drink a lot of fluids while you breastfeed—at least six to eight glasses a day.
Generally speaking, anything you eat should be fine for your baby. If you do eat something that you think may be bothering your baby (foods cited by some mothers include garlic, onion, citrus, peanuts), simply remove it from your diet.
Caffeine and alcohol can get into your milk. It is a good idea to limit how much of these you consume. In addition, smoking cigarettes has been shown to cause a decrease in milk production for the mother. It also increases the risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) as well as respiratory and ear infections in the baby.
A nursing mother needs rest. Let the people around you help with the day-to-day activities so that you can have some down time. Try to get as much sleep as possible. Although it may seem like your new baby will never sleep through my night, it will eventually happen.
Resources:
American Academy of Family Physicians
http://www.aafp.org/
American Academy of Pediatrics
http://www.aap.org/
La Leche League International
http://www.lalecheleague.org/
US Food and Drug Administration
http://www.fda.gov/
RESOURCES:
Health Canada
http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/
Women's Health Matters
http://www.womenshealthmatters.ca/
References
American Academy of Family Physicians. Breastfeeding: hints to help you get off to a good start. Familydoctor website. Available at: http://familydoctor.org/019.xml. Accessed February 15, 2007.
Breastfeeding—best for baby. Best for mom. National Women’s Health Information Center website. Available at: http://www.4woman.gov/breastfeeding/index.cfm?page=home. Accessed February 15, 2007.
Children’s health topics: Breastfeeding. American Academy of Pediatrics website. Available at: http://www.aap.org/healthtopics/breastfeeding.cfm. Accessed February 15, 2007.
Medicine while breastfeeding. Love Your Baby website. Available at: http://www.loveyourbaby.com/medicine-while-breastfeeding.html. Accessed December 14, 2009.
Last reviewed January 2009 by Janet H. Greenhut, MD, MPH
Please be aware that this information is provided to supplement the care provided by your physician. It is neither intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. CALL YOUR HEALTHCARE PROVIDER IMMEDIATELY IF YOU THINK YOU MAY HAVE A MEDICAL EMERGENCY. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider prior to starting any new treatment or with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.
Copyright © 2007 EBSCO Publishing All rights reserved.