Getting Breastfeeding off to a Good Start

Getting

Breastfeeding

OFF TO A

Good Start

What's
Inside:

01 Immediate Postpartum
03 Understanding Babies Cues
05 How to Latch & Un-latch
06 Nipple Pain: Causes and
Remedies
07 Nursing Positions
09 Bottle Feeding
10 Normal Patterns in
Breastfeeding

11 Photo Citations
12 References

"You’re always going to
wonder if you’re doing
things wrong, but that’s
what it means to be a mom,
to care so much about
someone else that you just
want to be as perfect as

possible.”
—Naya Rivera

skin-to-skin contact between mother and infant shortly after birth helps to initiate
early breastfeeding and increases the likelihood of exclusive breastfeeding for one to
four months of life as well as the overall duration of breastfeeding.

Immediately after you have your immediate contact is beneficial to
baby, there will be a rush of both the mother and baby. If
emotions. Your hormones and immediate skin-to-skin is not
body are reacting to this possible due to complications, the
spectacular event and your birth baby will be brought to the
team may be handling any mother as soon as possible. In the
complications that arose. Before meantime, you should use a breast
this moment, you may have made pump to initiate milk production.
up your mind that you want to Skin-to-skin helps the young one
breastfeed. If you haven't, it's not with body temperature regulation
too late to decide. Your baby will and exposes them to good
be given to you immediately for bacteria, from the mother's body. 
1 skin-to-skin contact. This  

Immediate
Postpartum

This bacteria helps build their by. On average babies only
immune system. Studies have also consume one teaspoon of
found that keeping the newborn colostrum per nursing session
on its mother until after  the first during the first 24 hours.
feeding improves chances of long Consistent nursing  will increase
term exclusive breastfeeding. milk supply. Milk is created  in a
(UNICEF, 2018). supply to demand system. Thus,
Once placed on their mother, you should nurse you baby 8 to 10
most babies can crawl to the times a day, for the first week.
breast and latch. Your midwife Complications such as c-sections
will be able to assist you in this may hinder the mothers' ability to
process. Once breastfeeding has start breastfeeding early.
begun it is important to Lactation consultants  and
remember that nothing other than midwives can assist the mother in
breast milk  should be fed to the the late onset of milk supplies. 
baby unless medically indicated. Breastfeeding is a unique time
Do not worry if you do not between mothers and their young
produce an abundance of milk. one. However, just because
Before the breast produces breastfeeding is natural does not
mature milk colostrum is made. mean it will be easy, or
For the first 24 hours, this is what instinctively on the mothers part.
your young one will be nourished 

2

Understanding
your bcuaebsies

Breastfeeding  is an important and
intimate time for mothers and their
young one. It is common for the mother
to wonder if their little one is getting
enough or to tell if they're hungry.
Generally, your babies hunger cues can
be broken down into three categories
classify how hungry or early their
hunger is. There are early, active, and
later.

Babies should be fed on demand,
paying special attention to their cues
for nursing. Crying is a late and final
indicator of hunger. Hunger cues
should be addressed before this final
stage is reached.

Early

Early hungers cues indicate that your
young one is getting hungry. Early cues
include:

Smacking/licking lips
Opening and closing mouth
Sucking on lips, tongue, hands,
fingers, toes, toys, or clothing
(Kellymom, 2018)
3

Active

Active hunger is the intermediate Sleepy babies are common. They may

stage in which your baby displays not show cues of hunger. They

their hunger. Cues in this stage should be woken every 2 hours

include: during the day and once at night to

Rooting in the arms of whoever is nurse. When the baby establishes a
holding them. good weight you do not need to wake
Trying to position for nursing, them to feed. At that point, they will
either by lying back or pulling on create their nursing schedule.
your clothes Sufficient weight gain is discussed on
Fidgeting or squirming around a lot page 10.
Hitting you on the arm or chest After week 4, your baby can sleep
repeatedly through the night if they're peeing,
Fussing or breathing fast pooping, and gaining substantial
(Kellymom, 2018) weight.

Late If your young one is younger than 4

Late hunger cues are a babies most weeks, constant sucking of the hands
drastic attempts to gain your attention. may not be a sign of continual
Babies cues should be acknowledged hunger. At this time your young one
does not have full muscle control.  
before this stage is reached.
Moving head frantically from side to When your baby is fussy, do not force
side the breast on them. This will further
frustrate the baby and hinder
Crying (Kellymom,2018)
breastfeeding. Find alternative

methods to soothing a fussy baby

before attempting to nurse them.

Knowing when your baby is full is

equally as important. Here are a few

cues of a full baby:

Turning head away

Shutting lips

Falling asleep

Becoming distracted

Stopping sucking (Enfamil, N/D).

4

How to Latch +
Unlatch

Research has shown that one of the main causes of discontinuing
breastfeeding is nipple pain. Subsequently, nipple pain has been
shown to be pimarily caused by poor latches.

Before you begin breastfeeding   This will cause back pain and

gather items that will make you make the session uncomfortable.

comfortable during the nursing When you are ready for the baby

session. Consider bringing a to open their mouth brush your

pillow, blanket, playing soft nipple on their nose. The baby

music, water, and your cell phone. should open its mouth wide as if it

Having a packaged nursing basket were yawning. Its lisp should be

containing most of these items cured outwards too. From here

will make preparing for a nursing you may begin nursing.

session easy. Once your area is If your baby does not respond to

ready, wash your hands and get stroking its nose, try mimicking

baby. the mouth opening action you

To begin, hold your breast, want them to do along with gently

placing 4 fingers underneath the stroking its chin with your finger.

breast and  your thumb on top to To break a latch insert your finger

support it. Gently squeeze  your into the babies mouth by gums.

breast, to cause the nipple to This will break the suction. From

protrude. This  is called the C- their, swoop your breast with

hold. Next, bring the baby to you. your finger and remove it from

Do not lean your body over the the babies mouth. Remember, you

baby, in attempts to bring your can nurse in different positions,

5 breast to them. 

Breast + Nipple
Pain

Nipple pain can be caused by multiple factors including poor latch, infection,
ongoing medical conditions. Luckily, there are many ways nipple pin can be
prevented and relieved

If you are experiencing nipple Cold or warm compresses.
pain contact your care provider Adjusting nursing position
for specific ways to heal your Massaging breast with breast
breast. milk milk or Extra virgin olive
Provided are some general oil
evidence-based methods that may Peppermint oil is useful in
be used. Persistent, unresolved cases of infection.
nipple or breast pain should be Avoid the use of
reported to your lactation Hydro-gel dressings due to
consultant and primary care their high incidence of
provider. infections.
Tea bags may cause the breast
to become dry and irritated 6
·        

Side lying

Laid back
Football Hold

Cradle Hold

Nursing Positions

Cross Cradle Hold There are many ways to hold your
baby while breastfeeding. Utilizing
various breastfeeding positions
makes the experience more enjoyable
for both mothers and babies.

7

Nursing Positions Football Hold

Its comes as a surprise to some Hold your baby like a football,
mothers that there is more than one placing its legs under your arm by
way you can nurse your baby! There your side. Support your babies
are various useful positions that will head with that arm. Hold your
get the job done and may be breast with the other hand.
comfortable for mom.
Laid Back
Cradle Hold
Sit or lay in a semi-recline position.
On the side you want to breastfeed Place your baby on you close
place the babies head in crease of that enough to your breast. From here
arm. Use that arm to support the babies can naturally latch onto the
babies body and head. Cuff your breast. You may assist your baby by
breast into a C-hold (PG 10) using guiding your nipple towards its
your other hand. mouth.

Crossover Hold Along with finding the right
nursing position, there are other
This position resemble the cradle things you can do to make
hold. Instead of the crease of your breastfeeding more comfortable.
arm, hold your babies body and head Support your baby by using a
with the arm closest to its feed. With nursing pillow or lying down.
your other hand by its head, place Bringing the baby to the breast will
your breast into a C-hold. be less painful and straining on
your body, compared to leaning
Side Lying over them.
Bring a pleasant beverage with you
Lie the baby and yourself on your side and something entertaining like
facing each other. Use the hand your soft music or a podcast.
laying on the support  the baby. Your Lastly, do not stress rush the
upper hand will hold your breast in a nursing session. Relax and allow
c-hold. your body and young one to learn
what works best for them. Do not
be afraid to try new positions or
nursing in different locations!

8

"UNICEF and WHO recommend exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months of life,
starting within an hour of birth. Continuing to breastfeed exclusively – without any
other food – for the first six months promotes sensory and cognitive development, and
protects babies against infectious and chronic diseases." (Selim, 2018)

A main concern in introducing Mothers who plan to feed their

pacifiers is nipple confusion. infant breast milk  from a bottle

Nipple confusion is when your will not have the issue of nipple

young one struggles to latch and confusion. However, mothers who

successfully breastfeed after being supplement breast milk  with

introduced to a bottle. Nipple formula may have trouble  getting

confusion can result in their baby to latch to the breast. It

discontinuation of breastfeeding. speculated that this is due to how

Breastfeed is important for the easy bottle feeding is for the baby

infant for numerous  reasons and compared to breastfeeding. Bottle

9 thus should be protected. feeding requires minimal

Introducing Bottles +
Pacifiers

effort on the infants part. Breast
feeding is much more work, and
thus may be rejected by the baby
for an easier method. There is no
way to predict with babies will
have nipple confusion. To ensure
your infant is off to a good start,
delay introducing bottles and
pacifiers until about 4 weeks,
when they are well established in
breastfeeding.
Also, look into using a bottles that
mimics the natural shape of the
breast. This will allow for easier
transitions between bottle and
breast.
Working mothers often  pump
milk to be feed to their babies
while they are away. Along with
pumping these mothers should
breastfeed their young one when
possible.

10

Normal

Patterns

in Breastfeeding

It is a common concern as to
whether  one's baby is getting a
sufficient amount of milk, or having
proper urination and bowel
movements. While each child is
unique, there is a general pattern
healthy growing babies follow as far
as milk consumption and waste
output.
Firstly, during the first few days
postpartum it is normal for babies to
lose 5-7% of their birth weight. They
will gain it back. Mothers who
received IV's during labor are likely
to give birth to babies whose weight
is impacted by the extra fluids. In
these cases, the baby may lose extra
water weight.
Day 1 postpartum babies have one
wet diaper and may pass their
meconium by this time
By day 4 the infant should have 6 wet
diapers a day and 3-4 dirty diapers.
A diaper sufficiently wet diapers will
have about three tablespoons of
urine.
The babies poop should be yellow,
loose and roughly the size f a quarter
or larger. (Kellymom, 2018)

11

Colostrum Foremilk Hindmilk

Newborns  typically gain the weight
back by 10 day to a week postpartum.
They gain weight at an average of 4 to 7
ounces a week, for the first 4 months.
(Medela, 2018).

12

Photo 1:
https://www.walesonline.co.uk/whats-on/whats-on-news/photographer-capture-every-

moment-mum-12575689
Photo 2:

https://www.google.com/search?
q=childbirth+photography&rlz=1C1CHBF_enUS831US831&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0a

hUKEwiQzfWd3KrjAhWVU80KHduMBhQQ_AUIECgB&biw=1366&bih=608#imgrc=Q-
ETiDBkkq3zoM:
Photo 3:

https://undercovermama.com/blogs/news/common-breastfeeding-positions-the-football-hold
Photo 4:

https://www.todaysparent.com/baby/breastfeeding/breastfeeding-lying-down/
Photo 5:

https://www.multi-mam.com/breastfeeding/how-to-relieve-painful-breastfeeding/
Photo 6:

https://parenting.firstcry.com/articles/breast-pain-after-stopping-breastfeeding-causes-
symptoms-and-treatment/
C- HOLD PHOTO

https://www.mamanatural.com/breastfeeding-positions/
Stages of Milk PHOTO

https://www.rebelcircus.com/blog/breast-milk-changes-child-sick/
Newborn Stomach size PHOTO

https://www.medelabreastfeedingus.com/article/238/tips-for-the-first-two-weeks-of-
breastfeeding

Mom using nursing pillow PHOTO:
http://www.medelabreastfeedingus.com/products/1012/maternity-and-nursing-pillow

Cradle Hold position PHOTO:
https://www.pinterest.co.uk/pin/290341507198887924/

Bbiological nursing PHOTO:
https://www.babycentre.co.uk/x25010335/what-is-laid-back-breastfeeding

13

14

Read Inside to Learn
How to Get

Breastfeeding of to
a Good Start