Baby Care: First Year

Lesson 5: Feeding: Breast and Bottle

Feeding is a time for comforting as well as for nourishing. Whether you choose to breastfeed or bottle-feed, do so with love. In this lesson, we will discuss ways to breastfeed or bottle-feed, and common concerns when doing either.

Breastfeeding

Breastfeeding your baby is her transition from your womb to the outside world. While inside, she was nourished by the umbilical cord, now she's nourished by your breasts and feels secure in your arms. Your voice and heartbeat are familiar comforts. Your milk, custom-made for her, contains all the nutrients she needs and is easily digested. It protects her from allergies, illnesses, and diseases, and aids in the optimal development of her brain and nervous system. (See pages 118 to 124 in The Baby Book to find out what's in your breastmilk.)

Breastfeeding your baby is good for you, too. While breastfeeding, you produce a high level of prolactin, the "mothering" hormone, which helps you balance the demanding nature of caring for a baby. Breastfeeding also prevents pregnancy, uses extra calories to help you get back in shape, and protects you from breast and ovarian cancers, urinary tract infections, and osteoporosis.

Take advantage of your baby's strong newborn sucking reflex by putting her to your breast as soon as possible after birth. If you wait, her sucking reflex may be weak for a couple of days.

Getting Started:

1. Sit or lie comfortably. Use pillows, footstool, or other props to support your arms, legs, or the baby if neccessary.
2. Hold your baby at nipple level with her head and body facing you.
3. Cup your breast with your hand.
4. Tickle your baby's lip with your nipple.
5. When she opens her mouth wide, center your nipple in her mouth above her tongue and pull her toward you so that your nipple is deep in her mouth with as much of your areola in her mouth as possible so she will suck effectively, compressing the milk sinuses to release the milk.
6. Her chin presses into your breast and her nose touches your breast. If her nose seems blocked, pull her bottom in closer rather than pressing down on your breast.
7. If you feel pain, stop and start over. Break the seal of her sucking by placing your finger in the corner of her mouth or by pulling back on her cheek.
8. Nurse her for as long as she shows interest. When she slows and begins to doze, offer her the other breast. At each subsequent feeding, offer her the fuller breast first.

This first breastfeeding experience may feel awkward. Your baby may only nuzzle or lick. Don't worry if she doesn't latch on right away. The important thing is to hold her close, talk to her, and comfort her. Correct positioning and latch-on ensures that your baby sucks well, gets plently of milk, and protects your nipples from soreness. (See pages 128 to 133 in The Baby Book for more information on breastfeeding positioning and latch-on skills.)

Your first milk, called colostrum, is an important source of protective immunities against disease. Nurse her often, according to her cues, to develop an adequate milk supply. In the beginning, she nurses from every twenty minutes to every two hours. Her feedings will become further apart as she grows.

After your baby sucks for several minutes, you may feel a tingling sensation as your milk lets down. This occurs several times during a feeding. Even if you don't feel the let-down, you notice her swallowing more rapidly.

Hold your baby upright after she nurses. This often brings up any air bubbles. Pat or rub her back if she is fussy and seems to need to burp. If she burps, see if she wants to nurse again. If she falls asleep at your breast, it's not necessary to wake her to burp.

(See pages 184 to 186 in The Baby Book for information on nursing multiple babies; and pages 187 to 191 for information on weaning your baby from your breast.)

1  2  3  4  5