Breastfeeding
THE ABCS OF BREASTFEEDING
By Dana Sullivan
You can't really prepare your breasts for breastfeeding, but you can
prepare your head. Before your baby is born, learn as much about
breastfeeding as possible. Start by taking a class at your hospital or
birth center, or reading pamphlets from your physician. The more
information you have about nursing before you begin, the more confident
you'll feel about it once you start. Remember that confidence, comfort,
and relaxation are three keys to successful breastfeeding. Simply put:
the more confident and comfortable you are, the more relaxed you are,
the easier it is for you to produce milk.
Getting Started During
the first few days nursing your newborn, you'll want to make sure he's
establishing a solid latch, which is essential for successful
breastfeeding. To make sure your baby latches on to your breast
properly: Hold your breast with your free hand, with your thumb above
and the rest of your fingers below your nipple and just behind the
areola (your thumb and index finger should form a "C" around your
nipple). Gently touch your baby's lips with your nipple. When she opens
her mouth, center your nipple in her mouth and draw her closer to you.
Hold your breast until you're sure she's latched on -- she should have
your entire nipple and an inch of your areola in her mouth.
Since
you'll spend several hours each day nursing your baby during the early
months, you'll want to experiment until you find the position that
works best for you. Here are a few of the most common:
- The Cradle Hold Sit in a chair with armrests or stack
several pillows under your arms. Rest your feet on a footstool or
ottoman to take pressure off your lower back. Hold your baby on your
lap so she's lying on her side, with her face and tummy facing you.
Tuck her arm under your arm and gently move her so she's resting on
your forearm. Your hand should support her back and bottom. Line her
nose and mouth up with your nipple. Encourage your baby to latch on as
described above.
- The Football Hold This position works well if you
had a Cesarean section. Sit in bed (or a comfortable armchair) and
wedge a pillow behind your back; place another on your lap. Position
your baby next to you on the side you are nursing from, cupping the
back of her neck in the same hand. Position her legs so they are tucked
between your arm and your side, toward the back of the bed. Encourage
her to latch on as described above.
- Side-lying hold This is an ideal position for
nursing in bed, either during nighttime feedings, or if you've had a
cesarean or episiotomy and sitting up is uncomfortable. Place one or
two pillows under your head. Place your baby on her side so she faces
you, cradle her in your arm, and position her so her mouth is directly
in front of your nipple. Pull baby in close to you and follow the
latch-on technique described above.
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About The Author
Nevada-based freelance writer Dana Sullivan is a frequent contributor to Your Baby Today and also writes for Fit Pregnancy and Parenting. She's mom to Liam, 4, and Julia, 2.
