Born2Nurse

THE FIRST 6 WEEKS TIPS:

• It is important that you have a supportive family.  If there is anyone helping you that is negative about breastfeeding or trying to convince you to give up to “make it easier”, be assertive in letting them know you need their full support, and that you WILL be breastfeeding, and you will not be giving the baby formula.

• Breastfeeding is not only the best thing for the baby, it is best for mama too!  Did you know that when you nurse, your body releases a hormone to help YOU AND BABY fall asleep after nursing?

• When you nurse at night, you will both get better rest if you are breastfeeding.  If you are exhausted and your family wants to help, let them.  They can care for the baby until she gets hungry.  They can wake you to nurse her and you can go back to sleep.  Tell them it is OK to wake you and it will actually help you sleep!  Mothers also sleep more deeply and more restfully if nursing. 

• DO NOT give baby bottle or pacifier during the first 4 weeks of breastfeeding.  Although some babies are fine and do not get confused, it will probably make your life more difficult!  Babies can get nipple confusion and you will have problems latching on.  After the first 4 weeks, if your baby is nursing well, you can experiment with a pacifier and see if the baby is OK with switching back and forth.

• Don’t worry that breastfeeding is for mamas only.  Dads can help and bond with baby in other ways.  Mamas are the ones that are supposed to do  the feeding!  Dad can help get the baby when it’s time for nursing, change diapers, and hold baby when Mama needs a nap.  The most important thing for Dad to do is to offer full support for breastfeeding.  When Mama says, “maybe we should just give baby formula”, dad needs to stay strong and keep reminding her that she is doing an awesome job and it WILL GET EASIER!!!

• Just remember, although it seems like a LOT of work in the beginning, breastfeeding DOES get a lot easier.  Bottle  feeding is always fairy involved (getting up in the middle of the night, warming a bottle, throwing out formula after 1 hr, sterilizing bottles, going to the store to buy formula, always carrying formula making tools).  After a year, you are still doing the same work.  BUT breastfeeding, within a few weeks, gets really easy!  You are always carrying ready-to-eat meals.  No equipment, feeding takes only a few minutes, and it’s like carrying 2 pacifiers!
• Think of the first month as an extension of the pregnancy.  It may be a bit rough, but the end is in sight and like giving birth, a miracle!  When you suddenly realize that nursing has become second nature, it is wonderful!  You wouldn’t farm out the last month of pregnancy and you don’t have to give up during the first month of nursing.
• Watch other moms nurse.  In our society, most people don’t know how to hold a baby for nursing, because it is never witnessed.  You can read all the books about nursing, but it’s easily understood by watching.
• If your pediatrician is not 100% supportive of you breastfeeding, find one who is. 
• If a doctor or medical professional tells you that you cannot nurse, call La Leche League in your area to find someone who supports breastfeeding.  While there are occasionally medical reasons that you cannot nurse, this is extremely infrequent (like if you have no breasts).  Find a doctor or lactation consultant who can help you determine why the baby isn’t getting enough milk. 
• If your baby is not gaining weight, find a consultant who can get to the root of the problem.  Do not believe someone who simply says you need to supplement without finding out why the baby isn’t gaining .  This person does not know breastfeeding.  FIND SOMEONE WHO DOES!
• If you are trying to pump milk, and you are not getting very much and getting frustrated (or a doctor is telling you that you should be getting more out), remember that babies always get more out of your breast than a pump.  As wonderful as some of the pumps are nowdays, a baby is always going to be more efficient at it.  In other words, don’t depend on pumping to tell you how much you are making.  It is not reliable. 
• The best way to tell if a baby is getting enough is to be in tune with your baby.  Does she look like she is filling out?  Is she pooping mustard yellow with “sesame seeds”?  Does she seem full?  Does she go2-3 hours between nursings?  If you are still not sure, get baby weighed a week apart (make sure they use the same scale).  In the beginning, baby should gain about .5-1.5 ounces per day.  If she is not, you don’t have to start supplementing.  Find a consultant who can help you get more milk into baby.  If your doctor is pushing you, say, “I would like to try such-and-such first for a week.  I’ll bring baby back next week and get him weighed.  Then we can discuss options.”
• Never force feed mama’s milk. 
• If nursing is painful, get to the bottom of it.  Lots of people will say it’s normal.  You don’t have to endure the pain!  Find out why!
• If your baby is jaundiced, baby DOES NOT need formula.  Breastfeed baby more often to decrease the biliruben level in the blood.  You may need to wake him up every 2 hours during the day to nurse since jaundiced babies are very sleepy.  As the jaundice leaves the body, the poop may be green.  Watch for the poops to change to yellow.  This indicates that the biliruben is gone.