Educational Resources

• For the initial six months of life, your baby only requires breastmilk. Starting from the six-month mark, you can introduce solid foods while continuing to breastfeed.

• Babies who are breastfed tend to be healthier, experiencing fewer ear infections, diarrhea, and allergies compared to those who are formula-fed. Additionally, formula-fed babies are at a higher risk of becoming overweight, developing obesity, or contracting diabetes.

• Breastmilk is consistently safe, sterile, and at the optimal temperature for your baby.

• Breastfeeding offers health benefits for mothers as well, aiding in a quicker recovery from childbirth and potentially assisting in weight loss post-pregnancy.

• Mothers who choose to breastfeed have a reduced risk of developing conditions like diabetes, certain cancers, and heart disease.

• The convenience of breastfeeding makes it an ideal option, especially when on the go. There's no need to carry around bottles or mix formula.

• Opting to breastfeed is also a more eco-friendly choice as it eliminates the need for packaging, bottles, nipples, and cleaning supplies.

• Pediatric experts generally advise breastfeeding for at least the first year of a baby's life, or longer if both mother and child desire.

Your baby has natural instincts that guide him in breastfeeding; a little assistance from you is all he needs.

• Make it clear to your healthcare providers in the hospital that you intend to breastfeed, and request that they avoid giving bottles or pacifiers to your baby.

• Aim to breastfeed as quickly as you can following birth, and let your medical team know you'd like to hold your baby skin-to-skin during the initial hours after delivery.

• Inquire if the hospital has a certified lactation consultant from the International Board, who can offer you valuable guidance.

• Becoming proficient in breastfeeding is a learning curve, akin to mastering a new dance. It becomes more natural as your baby grows older.

• Experiment with various breastfeeding positions.Take your time and relax as you and your baby become accustomed to breastfeeding.

The latch refers to the manner in which your baby attaches to your breast. Achieving a good latch is essential for the following reasons:

• Ensuring your baby receives adequate milk.
• Preventing discomfort or pain in the nipples.
• Promoting increased milk production.

During the initial stages, it's not uncommon for both mothers and babies to need some guidance and reassurance. If you're uncertain or facing challenges, never hesitate to ask for assistance. Below are some tips to guide you:

• Choose a relaxed position with sufficient support and cradle your baby close to you.
• Position your baby's nose in line with your nipple. This positioning will allow the baby's head to tilt back, facilitating a better grasp on the areola, the darkened skin surrounding your nipple.
• Ensure your baby's chin and lower lip touch the breast first. After latching, you'll observe that the baby's chin rests snugly against your breast.

Indicators of a Successful Latch:

You can be assured that your baby has latched on properly and is feeding effectively if:

• Both lips are turned outward instead of being folded in.
• The cheeks look full and have a rounded appearance.
• You either see or hear your baby swallowing.
• There's an absence of pain while breastfeeding.

Hand expression is a manual technique that mothers can use to extract colostrum or breast milk from their breasts. Especially in the first few days following birth, hand expression can be a particularly valuable tool for a variety of reasons. Here's how it can assist with breastfeeding during this crucial period:

• Stimulating Milk Production: Regular hand expression can encourage the breasts to produce milk, helping to establish a mother's milk supply.

• Easing Engorgement: Engorgement can be painful and can make it difficult for the baby to latch onto the breast. Hand expression can relieve this fullness, making it easier for the baby to feed.

• Collecting Colostrum: Colostrum is the nutrient-rich first milk produced during pregnancy and just after birth. Hand expression can help mothers collect this "liquid gold" to ensure their newborns get its benefits, especially if the baby is struggling with latching initially.

• Preventing Blocked Ducts and Mastitis: Regularly emptying the breast, whether through breastfeeding or hand expression, can help in preventing blocked ducts which, if not addressed, can lead to the painful condition of mastitis.

• Improving Latch: If the breast is too full, a newborn may have difficulty achieving a good latch. Expressing a little milk can soften the areola and make it easier for the baby to latch on and feed.

• Learning Breast Behavior: Hand expression allows mothers to become familiar with the feel of their breasts and understand how milk flow and consistency change over time.

• Flexibility: There might be situations in the early days where a baby is temporarily separated from the mother, perhaps due to medical reasons. In such cases, hand expression ensures that the baby still receives breast milk.

• Feeding in Special Situations: For premature babies or those in the NICU, direct breastfeeding might not always be immediately possible. Hand expression allows mothers to provide their milk to be given via other methods.

• Emotional Connection: The act of hand expression can help a mother feel more connected to the breastfeeding process and can be an empowering experience, knowing she can provide for her child even if challenges arise.

• Bonding with Baby: Expressing milk by hand can also be done while the baby is skin-to-skin on the mother's chest, promoting bonding and allowing the baby to access the breast easily if they show feeding cues.

Engorgement refers to the condition in which your breasts become overly full, causing swelling and discomfort. This often results from missed or delayed nursing sessions. Such engorgement can cause your breasts to feel extremely firm, making it challenging for your baby to latch properly.

To help alleviate the discomfort, you can:

• Take a warm shower or apply warm compresses before nursing to ease the pain.

• Manually express or pump a small amount of milk, which can soften the breasts and facilitate a more comfortable latch for your baby.

• If the firmness of your breasts makes latching difficult, consult your lactation specialist about techniques such as reverse pressure softening.

• After nursing, place ice packs on your breasts for approximately 20 minutes to reduce swelling. Alternatively, bags of frozen peas can be an effective substitute.

• Avoid introducing formula supplements and do not cease breastfeeding abruptly, as this can intensify the engorgement.

Lastly, to prevent breast engorgement, it's essential to nurse regularly, targeting 10 or more sessions within a 24-hour period.

• One way to ensure your baby is consuming enough milk is to monitor her weight gain and diaper usage.

• It's common for infants to lose a few ounces within the initial days after birth. However, post day 4, expect your baby to start gaining weight, returning to her birth weight between 10 and 14 days.

• It's perfectly fine if your baby goes through more diapers than the chart suggests. However, if she's using fewer, it's advisable to consult with your pediatrician.

• By the time she's 6 to 8 weeks old, the frequency of soiled diapers might decrease, which is typical. Regardless, she should still have a minimum of 5 wet diapers daily.