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The Surgeon General said, "Mother's milk is the ideal food for babies because, in addition to providing just the right nutrients, it also contains white cells and proteins that help fight gastrointestinal, respiratory and ear infections." --Nov. 1990, Dr. Antonia Novello, U.S. Surgeon General 1990-1993 |
| Got Milk? How Long to Nurse? |
Getting Started Alternatives to Breastfeeding |
Problems and Concerns Weaning your Baby |
This page is being expanded--more info and links are coming soon!
Got Milk?Why wouldn't you? We don't normally worry about animals mothers having enough milk for their offspring, so why do we mistrust our own bodies' abilities?Humans wouldn't have survived all these thousands of years any other way, so why do we suddenly feel we need some artificial milk? According to the Sears couple in their wonderful The Baby Book (see right column), "There are around four hundred nutrients in breast milk that are not present in formula." Of course there are times when we temporarily may not have enough milk, and more often times when we worry about it (myself included), so I highly recommend that any nursing mother get one of these: Nursing Tea More Milk is nursing tincture (liquid drops instead of tea) worth finding to increase the volume and quality of your milk. Works within hours or by the next day! (I just lost my source, but I'll keep looking.) Be aware that there is a difference in weight gain: a breast-fed baby does not follow formula-fed growth charts. There is a separate one for breast-fed babies, ask for it! Getting StartedHealthy, full-term newborns usually can latch on well immediately. Preemies and unwell babies often need extra help. Make certain that a midwife or someone knowledgeable has checked on the nursing progress a few hours after birth–but if you have doubts, even if she says the baby is nursing fine, call a lactation specialist! The most important thing is that the baby gets the entire nipple plus most of the areola (the darker circle around the nipple) in the mouth. Most newborns have very strong sucking ability–you'll be surprised–but unless the areola is in the mouth as well, the baby won't get all the milk and it'll hurt!The best advice I've found so far covering all areas of nursing is in The Baby Book (right column). I'll also be adding lots of links to more info soon. Unfortunately, in the western world, nursing hurts many women, at first. It mainly hurts when the baby latches on, then the pain eases and the wonderful nursing feelings kick in. For some it hurts a couple days, for others several weeks. It hurt me, some, for weeks, but it was so worth it! also, even though he nursed well, I didn't know enough to make sure the first one latched on well, and even though the nurses at the hospital said so, I now know he didn't always get the areola and I didn't know to take him off when he didn't and let him latch again. Other cultures have an easier time since the women's breasts are less sensitive--they aren't as protected (by bras, mainly, as well as by clothing). Skin that gets lightly bumped and chafed all the time becomes less sensitive, like your arms. It does help to go braless (before the baby comes, and after) and you can always try the "rubbing the nipples with a washrag" routine. When your milk comes in, and other times when your breasts are especially full, it seems like baby can't breathe while nursing. You can just press a finger on a spot an inch away from the nipple to allow more air flow. Remember, it may seem tricky at first, but you'll have plenty of practice in the first days and weeks, and then it may seem like your baby is permanently attached sometimes, but it does get easier! After around six weeks, you should both be settled into a comfortable routine, which will occasionally be broken up by heavy-duty nursing days, followed by sleeping and growing days. Problems and ConcernsPreferring One Side Over the Other - is very common! Once you both got your nursing relationship down pat, you can experiment with different times nursing on each side and actually increase or decrease the size of each breast!Biting - rarely a cause to abandon nursing. It cannot be done while nursing, and usually bottom teeth come in first anyway. Most babies instinctively know the difference, but do hit a stage where they try it. Don't be afraid to holler (but do be careful not to drop baby), baby will probably cry--that's fine, you may need to comfort baby some, but not a 2nd time. Baby may laugh–make sure you don't! Be certain to remove baby from breast. Pinching and Tugging - very common. Hold baby's hand while nursing, if you can't spare a hand, try holding baby's tummy against the other nipple to guard it. It's a good time to teach and demonstrate with baby's hand "make nice" or "gentle." Cracked and Sore Nipples - generally easily solved with a good Nipple Cream Blocked Milk Duct "Mastitis" - many women get it at some time. It is important to treat immediately! The best treatment is to nurse very often (not in any way bad for baby) and try to fully empty the breast. Some books recommend pumping, but I found it hurt too much, and baby is so much more efficient, so I pumped (by hand) the other side, so it didn't get built up and then blocked, and mostly nursed the sore side. Also, it is a lot of help to have a Nursing Breast Soother How Long to Nurse?Whatever works for you and baby. Longer is better, but any amount of nursing, like three months, or even three weeks is still so helpful for the baby, not to mention the mom. Dr. Antonia Novello, while U.S. Surgeon General said, "The American Academy of Pediatrics says that babies should be breastfed until age 1. (It's the lucky baby, I feel, who continues to nurse until he's 2.)"Alternatives to BreastfeedingIf you can't nurse, or have to supplement or wean suddenly, there are other choices besides regular formula. I'm trying to track down the recipe for a natural home-made formula that I once saw. If you are desperate, email me.Weaning Your BabySome babies self-wean at 5 months, or between 9 and 12 months. If your baby has not weaned by one year, it is unlikely that he or she will do so before 3 or 4 or even 5 years old without some help from you. Of course if you have the option and the inclination to nurse that long, and many women do, great. If not, you need a plan.It seems like the ideal for your body and baby is to wean gradually. Most of the time, that's so. Even if you need to finally stop nursing by one particular time, it is usually best to reduce nursings gradually before that. However, some babies are upset by the inconsistent nursing and the mixed messages. Stretching out the process over time just makes those children upset. They'd rather have a clear cut decision from you, fight and deal with that change, and then move on. The Nursing Mother's Guide to Weaning (see right column) gives lots of helpful information for this process. When weaning abruptly, you may have some physical discomfort in addition to whatever emotions you are feeling. For reducing milk, try parsley and sage! Hot showers, massaging the breasts, and even binding your breasts can help with discomfort. If the discomfort is intense, try pumping a little bit of milk, manually or with a pump, until the pain subsides–you will probably only have to do that a couple times, generally the engorgement passes after a day or two. Also, remember how much let-down is triggered by baby's asking for milk or crying, and find a way to reduce those psychological triggers. You can look at this as a sort of graduation. Let baby (and you) have a formal goodbye to nursing. Since baby is now "older," this is a great time to allow baby to graduate to something more grown-up, like sitting at the table instead of in a high chair, or to regular cups instead of sippy cups, or to a special gadget that lets him or her turn their own light switch on or off. Please support this site and buy from our links. |
What you need: Nursing Bras These are soft, mostly cotton, and come in several styles. Nursing Breast Soother Nipple Cream Nursing Pads - Disposable Nursing Pads - Washable Nursing Tea  The Baby Book: Everything You Need to Know About Your Baby -- from Birth to Age Two, Vol. 1
An excellent book that thoroughly covers breastfeeding techniques, benefits, etc., as well as all the baby basics: eating, sleeping, development, health, and comfort. This couple is most famous for their "attachment parenting" way of bonding with their children. "...offers advice to working moms on how to continue breastfeeding after returning to work...explains the basics of breastfeeding, including nursing positions, milk supply, and feeding schedules." A must-have for any mom planning to return to work!
This book addresses many nursing problems, helping you to avoid weaning if you are not ready, and offering you several choices for weaning when you are ready. It worked for me! |
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