It’s not easy to breastfeed. Otherwise, formula milk manufacturers would get out of business. Breastfeeding can cause excruciating pain in the first weeks, cracked nipples, unquenchable thirst, and rock-hard breasts. But, on the bight side, all these drawbacks are generally temporary, and breastfeeding comes with a lot of long-term benefits for both mother and child.
Breastfeeding benefits
The most significant advantage for the baby is that breastmilk provides protection against viruses mainly when you exclusively breastfeed. Their immune system is strengthened as they get the right quantities of sugar, fat, protein and water. Research has also shown that the composition of breastmilk varies between babies born on term and preterm infants and by stage of lactation. This basically means that breastmilk changes its content depending on your baby’s needs, and this is what makes it unique and perfect.
Other benefits of breastmilk are:
- Fewer ear infections, respiratory diseases, urinal and stomach infections
- Decreases the risk of various allergies as well as asthma
- Lower chance of becoming overweight, getting diabetes and high cholesterol
- Encourages cognitive development
- May reduce the risk of ADHD
- Helps brain development in preemies
The most important benefit for new mothers is that breastfeeding teaches you patience which you’ll need up to teenage years and probably beyond. You learn to wait patiently during a 40-minute breastfeeding session while your arm gets numb, to remain calm when baby wakes up several times at night, not for food but for comfort, and to patiently overcome the constant tiredness that comes with carrying your baby wherever you go because this is what breastfeeding on cue implies.
Other advantages for mothers include:
- Losing pregnancy weight faster
- Lowers risk of ovarian cancer, breast cancer, and osteoporosis
- Helps uterus come back more quickly to its standard size
- Can prevent postpartum depression and reduce stress levels, due to the release of two hormones called oxytocin and prolactin
- Cheaper than formula
- Less time consuming than sterilizing bottles and warming up milk
- More practical at night as you always have milk ready at the right temperature while not getting up of bed
- You realize that the appearance and size of your breasts or nipples are not in any way an impediment to your ability to nurse your baby, just as nature intended.
How to latch on correctly
A good latch is paramount for a newborn to feed correctly. First of all, ensure that you sit in a comfortable position so that you don’t need to change positions during the feed. Have a tall glass of water nearby, including at night, as you might feel thirsty when your milk lets down. Some new mothers also get a little hungry so have some healthy snacks within reach, too. Ensure you have extra cushions to support your back and the arm that supports the baby.
Now, for the cradle position, take the baby in your arms. She should be facing you as she shouldn’t twist her neck to nurse. Your hand should be supporting your newborn’s bottom or lower back.
Next, with your free hand, cup your breast with your fingers as if you’d grab a sandwich, and stroke your baby’s lower lip with your nipple. She will instinctively move her head from left to right and open her mouth.
Bring the baby’s body closer to you with the hand that’s supporting her back, so that her mouth gets closer to the nipple and her nose is just below the nipple. Don’t bring just her head closer to your breast. Babies don’t like that.
Center your nipple above her tongue but, and this is important, wait for her to take the nipple in her mouth. After one or two minutes, the let-down reflex is triggered, and you may feel tingling and start getting warm and thirsty.
A good latch is when:
- Baby’s lips are flipped out like a fish, especially the lower lip.
- Her mouth covers the nipple and most of the areola, which is the darker skin around the nipple.
- You can see her tongue which is just below the nipple. It is usually more visible in older children.
- You can hear her regular swallowing for at least 10 minutes if the room is quiet, and sometimes you can even notice her ears rhythmically move as she is gulping.
- You can feel a tingling but no pain.
- Your breasts feel less tense and less heavy after nursing.
- When the infant gets enough milk, she wets enough diapers and is gaining weight appropriately. Babies should use 6-8 diapers per day.
A bad latch is when:
- It feels painful or shallow.
- Swallowing is not regular.
- Breastfeeding session is very long (more than 1 hour).
- If she hasn’t attached properly to your breast, meaning it hurts or you can’t hear her swallowing:
- With your pinkie, gently nudge baby’s chin so that she opens her mouth wider.
- Nudge your pinkie between baby’s gums. She will automatically open her mouth.
- Re-attach the baby several times until you are sure you have a good latch. The key is to keep practicing.
How to have enough milk
For a plentiful milk supply you need to:
- breastfeed on demand
- use breast compressions
- opt for rooming-in while in hospital
- avoid formula, pacifiers, artificial nipples
- practice skin-to-skin contact
Breastfeeding on cue or breastfeeding on demand means putting your child to breast at the first signs of hunger, day or night, without using feeding timetables or trying to calm the baby down with pacifiers. The more often you put the child to your breast, the easier your milk will come in.
In the first months, feeds are frequent. Although there is no rule and every child is different, brace yourself with patience and be prepared to feed her every hour or two in the first three months. There are also growth spurts when the baby may want to feed even more often. Do not get discouraged whatever those around you might say as this has nothing to do with the milk supply or the quality of your milk.
However, if you think your baby is not getting enough milk, try breast compressions during feeds. This is similar to expressing milk by hand, and it helps baby have a deep latch.
Giving formula may hurt milk supply. This is because your body receives the signal that less milk is needed. You might be tempted to feed the baby a formula bottle in the evening so that she sleeps for longer. This is because protein found in formula digests more slowly than protein in maternal milk.
However, night feedings are essential as your body produces more prolactin when you nurse at night. This is the hormone that encourages milk production.
If you think that your baby is not getting enough breast milk, remember that you are not alone and ask advice from a lactation consultant, your midwife or other more experienced mothers.
