Contents
Before Your Baby Is Born
Baby Gear
Your Baby’s First Days at Home
How to Lift and Hold Your Baby
How to Change and Dress Your Baby
How to Bathe Your Baby
Breastfeeding
Bottle Feeding
The Transition to Solid Foods
How to Burp Your Baby
Naps and Sleeping
Infant Health
How to Babyproof Your Home
Infant Development
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Breastfeeding
A mother’s breasts will begin producing milk 2–3 days after giving birth, even if she’s decided to bottle feed. Before that, the breasts produce a small amount of colostrum, a pre-milk substance rich in antibodies. The colostrum will feed your baby sufficiently during the first few days after birth.
When the milk comes in, the breasts will feel very full. It takes about two weeks to complete the transition from colostrum to breast milk. If breastfeeding is initiated, the breasts will continue to produce milk. If breastfeeding is not initiated, the breasts will cease to produce milk.
How to Breastfeed Your Baby
It’s normal for new mothers to struggle at first with breastfeeding. Don’t panic if you encounter difficulties. Breastfeeding is a skill you will improve at with practice. If you continue to have difficulty, consult your pediatrician.
- Drink: Drinking a glass of milk, water, or juice before each nursing session may improve your milk supply.
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Hold your baby correctly: Sit so that your back and shoulders are well supported. Don’t lean in to your baby—bring her to you. You can use pillows to help support you and position your baby. She should be facing you with head and body aligned. Her head should not be arched back or turned sideways. Popular breastfeeding holds include the cradle and cross-cradle hold (see How to Hold Your Baby), as well as the football hold and lying down position.
- Open your baby’s mouth: Tickle your baby’s lips with the nipple. The lips will open instinctively.
- Latching on: Support your breast with your thumb on top and your other fingers below, while leaving enough room for your baby to latch on to the breast. When her mouth is widest, use your arm to draw her toward your breast so that she gets not just the nipple but at least a 1" circle of your areola (the ring of colored skin around the nipple) in her mouth. This will ensure that your baby gets enough milk and that your nipples don’t get sore.
- Signs of successful nursing: A successfully nursing baby will make calm sucking motions and swallowing sounds and breathe through the nostrils. Pull gently on your baby’s lower lip during nursing to make sure she isn’t sucking her own tongue or lower lip.
- Breaking suction (if necessary): If your baby has just the nipple or seems to be having difficulty, break suction by inserting a finger into the corner of her mouth and try again.
Breastfeeding Schedules and Amounts
Most experts agree that “on demand” nursing is best, at least at the beginning of your nursing relationship. At a minimum, infants should nurse 8–12 times a day, or every 2–3 hours. At certain times of the day or night, or during growth spurts, young babies may nurse even more frequently. Older babies may feed less frequently and for shorter intervals as they become more efficient.
The length of time your baby nurses is determined by his interest and response. Many babies suck vigorously and swallow often for the first 10 minutes or so, then slow down, losing interest or falling asleep. At this stage you can burp or change your baby. Then offer your second breast. If your baby wants to keep nursing, let him nurse for as long as he maintains interest. Then start the next nursing session with the “second” side.
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