Let me first start off this post by saying that I am in no way writing this to say that breastfeeding is THE only way to feed your baby. Although I think that breastfeeding is wonderful for your baby, I have known many friends and family who have not been able to breast feed for many reasons. I do not look down upon anyone who chooses not to breastfeed, so please do not think I am writing this post to put anyone down that does not breastfeed. These are simply a few suggestions to help encourage breastfeeding success for those mothers out there that really want to breastfeed. Breastfeeding, especially with your first child, can be really scary and confusing, so these are simply a few ways that moms can try to help calm and ease their nerves. Although sometimes you can not control whether or not breastfeeding works for you and your baby, here are a few things you can do to help encourage the process and help make it more successful.
1. Have Skin To Skin Early And Often
After your baby is born ask your doctor and nurses if you can have skin to skin time as soon as possible with your infant. This is one of the most important things you can do to encourge nursing right away. Hold your baby close to your breasts. Amazingly, they will instinctively move toward your nipples and will breastfeed. Do this often in the hospital and during the first few days, as well. Practice makes perfect with breastfeeding, so the earlier and the more often you do it, the better your baby will be at it.
2. Avoid Pacifiers
I remember when I had my first child, the day after he was born I gave him a pacifier. When the nurse walked in I felt like a child being reprimaned by her mother. She helped me to understand that it’s important not to give your baby a pacifier for at least a few days or weeks until after they are good and efficient at breastfeeding, otherwise they can get confused between the nipples and may prefer the feel of the pacifier over your breast. If that happens, they may start to refuse your breast. So unless you absolutely have to give them a pacifier, avoid it at all costs. Remember, they have never had one their whole life in utero, so they won’t know the difference if they don’t have one now.
Source: diapers.com
3. Avoid Nipple Shields
The same reason why you should avoid pacifiers during the first few days of breastfeeding is the same reason why you should avoid using nipple shields, as well. When I was in the hospital nursing my son, one of the nurses came into the room and told me that it looked like my nipples were getting sore and irritated. Honestly, I didn’t feel like they were, but since it was my first time doing this, I honestly had no idea. She ended up giving me a nipple shield to protect my nipples. I used it for a few days because, well, the nurse told me to. Whenever I tried to take the nipple shield away, my son wouldn’t nurse on my breast. He was obviously confused between the nipple shield and my real nipple. It took a week or so of training him to not be confused, and it came with a lot of tears and stress. So, speaking from experience, unless your breasts are hurting so much that you literally cannot nurse without a nipple shield, try not to use one.
4. Avoid Formula
If you really want to be successful at breastfeeing, avoid formula for the first few days if you can. Obviously, for nutritonal reasons, if you need to use it, by all means, do whatever will make your baby healthiest. However, if you just want to use it because you’re too tired to nurse or because your breasts hurt, you may confuse your baby between breast milk and formula. They may actually start to prefer eating formula over breastmilk. I know a lot of babies don’t like formula, but you don’t want to run the risk if you don’t have to.
5. Avoid Bottles
Again, the same idea here is that a bottle nipple may confuse your baby between your real nipple and a bottle nipple. Even if you do want to take a break and have someone else feed your baby a breast milk bottle, try your hardest not to do this for a few days. It’s actually easier for baby to get food out of a bottle than it is out of your breast, so they may start to prefer the bottle over your breast and then you’ll have a real problem.
6. Pump After Feedings
A great thing to do to increase your milk supply during the first few hours and days is to pump often, as well. After your baby nurses, pump immediately to not only get more milk for those times that you may need a breastmilk bottle, but to increase your supply. Breast milk works on supply and demand. If you have baby and pump working at your breast often, you will get more milk. Doing this especially in the first few hours and days will allow your milk to come in sooner, and more fully.
7. Practice A Proper Latch
Probably the most important thing you can do in the first few days of breastfeeding is to practice a proper latch with your baby. If your baby isn’t latched properly it will really hurt your breasts and then you’ll never want to breastfeed again. Also, since they’re not suctioning properly, it may actually inhibit the amount of milk your breasts produce. Therefore, your milk may not fully come in and your baby may not get enough food. So practice a good latch every time your baby feeds. Work with the nurses and even lactation specialists to help both you and baby learn how to do it properly.
Mary Mulroney
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Mary Mulroney
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