Breast-Feeding for First Timers Leigh

In pregnancy, and the first few days after your baby's born, your breasts make colostrum. This is a highly nutritious, concentrated fluid that builds your baby's resistance to infection, and helps get his digestive system working well.

On days two to five, your breasts start making breast milk.

You'll continue to make milk, as long as you and your baby ‘tell’ your body it's needed, by

• feeding your baby as often as he wants, and letting him stay on as long as he wants to on the 'first' side, before offering the 'second'. He may or may not want the second side. In the first weeks, frequent feeding is normal.
• making sure your baby is positioned at your breast, and 'attached' to you, in the right way. This is called 'latching on' and it means he gets a satisfying amount of milk when he feeds, and he also stimulates your breast milk production more effectively.

You'll also need to avoid bottles in the early days. A bottle of formula can work against you establishing breastfeeding because it fills up a baby's tummy, and means he’s less keen to come to the breast, so you make less milk. (Bottles introduced later on, when breastfeeding's well underway, are much less likely to interfere with your supply).

Getting your baby latched on

Follow these rules for happy feeding

• get yourself comfortable and relaxed.
• hold your baby across your body, so his chest is against your chest and his head doesn't have to turn to take your breast.
• keeping your fingers well away from your nipple, bring your baby to your breast when his mouth is w...i...d...e open. It shouldn't hurt when he comes on (though a fleeting feeling of being ‘gripped’ is nothing to worry about). If it hurts, take him off and try again, this time waiting until his mouth is open wider. Remember to insert a finger gently into the side of his mouth when taking him off your nipple.

Getting help

Ask for help from a midwife at first, unless you're really certain you have everything right. Later, at home, you can get help from a community midwife, a health visitor or a breast-feeding counsellor.

Knowing you're doing fine

A well-fed breast-fed baby gains weight (though not always at the same rate every week) and is contented after most feeds. He or she will also have several wet nappies a day. The number of dirty nappies is not so crucial - it's quite usual for babies to have frequent dirty nappies at first, and then fewer as they get older. But there is a wide range of normal. If you're worried, ask your health visitor. Breast-fed babies do cry, though, and they can suffer from colic, too.

If your baby seems cross and hungry a lot of the time, then seek help. Sometimes, this situation resolves itself, as both you and your baby get better at feeding. However, there are ways to help in the meantime.

For example, you may need to help your baby get a better position on the breast., or hold her in a way that's mor...

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