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Benefits of Breastfeeding

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I don’t know where you are on your breastfeeding journey. Perhaps you are pregnant, or maybe it’s 3 am, and you are trying to encourage yourself that breastfeeding is really worth it. However, I am here to tell you that breastfeeding is the perfect food for your baby. Why?

It’s a complete food.
Breas tmilk is the perfect food for your baby’s developing body. All of the nutrients in your milk can be readily absorbed. There is no need to supplement your baby unless directed to do so by his physician.

Amazing immune boosting benefits…
Did you know that breast milk is actually a living food? It’s true your breast milk is living immune system for your baby. When your infant was in your womb, he was protected from the insults of the outside world, which include bacteria and viruses. His food came directly from you. So, why should it be any different after he is born? Now that he is outside your body he has more encounters with bacteria and viruses. Like a superhero, the antibodies in your breast milk fight the intruders and work to reduce your child’s chances of respiratory illness and gastrointestinal upset. (Field, 2005, pp. 1-2; Gettle, 2016, pp. 5-6).

Lowers your child’s risk of SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome).
According to the research of Vennemann, et al. (2009) the risk of a child dying from SIDS can be reduced by 50% when he is breastfed.

Breastfeeding also benefits YOU!

Breastfeeding is a mood booster.
The hormone oxytocin is released when you breastfeed your baby. This hormone is often referred to as the hormone of love, and it encourages a deep bond between you and your infant (Bai, Middlestadt, Joanne Peng, & Fly, 2009, p. 138). Not only that it actually facilitates the “let down” reflex. Besides driving the flow of breastmilk, it also boosts a mother’s mood. In fact, it has antidepressant qualities which can help to reduce stress (Mezzacappa & Katkin, 2002, p. 191; Gettle, 2016, p. 4).

Help prevent breast cancer!
According to research by the Collaborative Group on Hormonal Factors in Breast Cancer (2002) for every 12 months, a mother breastfeeds she can reduce her risk of breast cancer by 4%. Not only that but with each child she gives birth to she can further reduce her risk by 7% per child (p. 187).

Breastfeeding packs a punch with economic and time-saving benefits!
No matter how you look at it feeding an infant takes time. Breastfeeding saves you time by being always available. There is no need to get out of bed and mix formula. It also saves money because it is a free food source. Despite being no cost, it offers the priceless benefit of immunity for your infant, which can’t be found in formula. Don’t forget that because your baby receives an immune boost with each feeding you are working to prevent unnecessary doctor visits due to illnesses your infant encounters unaware (Gettle, 2016, p. 5).

In summary…

As a mother to two, I have been blessed to breastfeed both of them. Now, I’m not going to tell you that the whole journey was an easy one. There were days when I was in pain, exhausted, and about ready to throw in the towel. However, thanks to the encouragement of my family and friends I pressed on.

My daughters and I overcame our hurdles, and we grew closer together because of them. I will never regret those 3 am feedings because that was precious time spent with my babies that I will never get back. The hard times, sure they were tough, but I don’t regret those either because I grew as a woman because of them.

I am here to say no matter where your journey leads you I am behind you. Why, because I am a mom, and I get it. Sometimes life throws a curve ball. However, we are women, and we are resilient. We do our best, we fall, and we get up again. If you need a shoulder to lean on or have a question on breast or formula feeding simply click “Need Help” and leave me a message.

Reference

Bai, Y. K., Middlestadt, S. E., Joanne Peng, C. Y., & Fly, A. D. (2009). Psychosocial factors underlying the mother’s decision to continue exclusive breastfeeding for 6 months: An elicitation study. Journal of Human Nutrition and Dietetics, 22(2), 134-140. doi:10.1111/j.1365-277X.2009.00950.x\

Field, C. J. (2005). The immunological components of human milk and their effect on immune development in Infants1,2. The Journal of Nutrition, 135(1), 1-4. Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com/docview/197429254?accountid=14436

Gettle, E. (2016). Breastfeeding: The impact of skin-to-skin contact within one hour after birth. Unpublished manuscript, Maternal Child Health, Union Institute and University.

Mezzacappa, E. S., & Katkin, E. S. (2002). Breast-feeding is associated with reduced perceived stress and negative mood in mothers. Health Psychology, 21(2), 187-193. doi: 10.1037//0278-6133.21.2.187

Vennemann, M. M., Bajanowski, T., Brinkmann, B., Jorch, G., Yucesan, K., Sauerland, C, Mitchell, E., A, & GeSID Study Group. (2009). Does breastfeeding reduce the risk of sudden infant death syndrome? Pediatrics, 123(3), e406-e410. doi:10.1542/peds.2008-2145

How do I know if my baby is getting enough?

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This is one of the most frequently asked questions of new mothers. In the late night hours you may wonder if he is actually getting enough? Is your milk sufficient?

Weight gain?

Newborns feed about every 2 to 3 hours. This means that you will need to feed him about 12 times in a 24 hour period (Hold, Wooldridge, Story, & Sofka, 2011). Your infant may lose some weight after birth. However, he shouldn’t lose more than 7% of his birth weight and should not lose any more weight by day 5. When your infant is 12 to 14 days old he should be back to his birth weight (Caldwell & Turner-Maffei, 2014). If your infant’s weight loss is concerning, trust your intuition and seek out help from a qualified medical professional.

What’s the Output?

There are ways to know if you baby is getting enough milk. One of the ways is through output. How many wet diapers and stools is your baby producing in a day?

breastfeedinginfantoutput

You can know your baby is getting enough if she is producing 1 wet diaper per day of life up to 6 days old and settling out to about 6 to 8 wet diapers per day once your milk comes in fully. Stool colors will change as your milk increases. Your infant’s stool will be loose. Do not worry; this is completely normal.

Time to ask for help?

It is important to pay careful attention to your infant’s diapers. These are your clue for knowing how much she is taking in. You should contact your local lactation counselor and physician if…

  • Your intuition is speaking to you loud and clear. I never doubt a mother’s intuition.
  • Your infant has lost more than 7% of her birth weight.
  • Your infant has not gained weight by day 5.
  • Your baby hasn’t returned to her birth weight 14 days from birth.
  • Your little one isn’t having 6 to 8 urine-filled diapers per day by day 6.
  • Your baby isn’t producing about 4 stools per day by day 4 (Lactation Education Resources, n.d.).

Never go past what your gut is telling you. In our hectic lives it may be hard to keep track of your infant’s diapers. However, you can keep track of your daily feedings and infant output through this Newborn Feeding Log.

One last thing…
I personally love this video. It provides wonderful insight and features women from around the world who have asked the same question. Is my baby getting enough milk?

Reference

Caldwell, K., Turner-Maffei, C. (2014). Pocket guide for lactation management (2nd ed.). Burlington, MA: Jones & Bartlett Learning.

Hold, K., Wooldridge, N., Story, M., Sofka, D. (Eds.). (2011). Bright futures: Nutrition (3rd ed.). Elk Grove Village, IL: The American Academy of Pediatrics.

Lactation Education Resources. (n.d.). Is my baby getting enough [Class handout]? Retrieved from http://www.lactationtraining.com/images/PDFs/handouts/Getting_Enough_To_Eat.pdf

Latch 1, 2, 3…

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The infamous latch.  What does a good latch look like?  The latch can make or break a breastfeeding experience. A good latch feels good. There is no pain involved. A bad latch is painful and can leave your nipples sore and cracked.

In order to achieve a good latch follow these steps…

Step 1: Make sure you are comfortable. You should bring your baby to the breast not the breast to the baby. Ensure that your back is supported and you are not strained. Relax.

Step 2: Position your baby so that his tummy is against your tummy. Do not position his face to your tummy and his tummy to the ceiling. You both should be tummy to tummy. You should be able to imagine an invisible straight line from his ear to his hips. Position your baby’s arms so that the lower arm wraps around towards your back as he feeds in a semi-hugging position (Lactation Education Resources, n.d.).

Support your baby’s neck, not the back of his head. Imagine trying to eat your favorite food and someone is pushing you forward by pressing on the back of your head. This is not comfortable, and your baby will agree.

Step 3: Bring him to the breast with his nose at your nipple. He will smell your milk. Pull him away from the nipple an inch or so he will open his mouth. You want his mouth to open wide as if he is ready to eat a double-cheeseburger or yawning. This is the time to bring him to the breast.

Your nipple should fill your baby’s upper mouth. So, when the baby tilts his head back when opening his mouth wide allow his chin to approach the breast first which helps to ensure that the nipple stays in the upper portion of his mouth (Caldwell et al., 2006).

Check out this video for some visuals on how to latch and position your infant…

Recapping signs of a good latch…

  • Your baby’s lips should not be rolled in but instead flanged out.
  • Baby’s mouth should be opened wide around your breast.
  • Going back to geometry in high school you should be able to envision an 140 degree angle branching out from the corner of his mouth.
  • Don’t approach your breast with the nipple viewed as a bulls-eye. Instead, an ideal latch is asymmetrical. You should see more of the upper portion of your areola while the lower portion will be covered by the baby’s mouth.
  • Nose and chin close to the breast.
  • You should experience no pain. If you experience pain, break the latch and try again.

Reference

Caldwell, K., Turner-Maffei, C., O’Connor, B., Cadwell Blair, A., Arnold, L. D. W., Blair, E. (2006). Maternal and infant assessment for breastfeeding and human lactation: A guide for the practitioner. Sudbury, MA: Jones and Bartlett Publishers.

Lactation Education Resources. (n.d.). Positioning & latch-on: Mother-led latching [Class handout]. Retrieved from http://www.lactationtraining.com/images/PDFs/handouts/Positioning_Latch-on_Mother-led.pdf

Feeding Cues

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I have heard mothers express great frustration when trying to feed their baby while the infant is inconsolable. I often think of how I would feel if someone frantically approached me with dinner when I am having a breakdown. All I need is someone to hold me until I get over whatever trivial thing set me off and then we can think about a dinner date. So, mom, when your little angel is actively crying she probably won’t achieve a good latch. What should you do? It’s time for a hug, skin-to-skin time to be exact. She needs to reestablish her feelings of comfort and trust and then she can move on to dinner once she is a little calmer.

So, how do you know when to feed your baby? First of all, please don’t go by the clock but by her cues. Scheduled feedings do nothing for your milk supply. When your baby was in the oven, she had constant access to nourishment. She wasn’t relegated to a schedule. So, you will throw her and yourself for a loop if you decide that the clock should dictate her feedings (De Caravalho, Robertson, Friedman & Kalus, 1983).

Feeding Cues to Watch for…

  • When she bats those precious eyes at you and puts her little fist to her mouth.
  • Sucking and mouthing motions.
  • Your little one may wiggle as if searching for something just beyond sight.
  • If you caress your baby’s cheek, she may turn her head.
  • Rooting motions.
  • If your little one is in slumber-land, watch for REM or rapid eye movement. You will know she is in REM sleep when you see her eyes moving under her eyelids.

When you notice any of the above feeding cues, this is a good time to attempt breastfeeding. The best time to initiate breastfeeding is when your baby is in a quiet but alert state. This means that she isn’t experiencing frustration but absorbing the world around her. Sometimes babies pass from a quiet alert state into frustration and crying quickly. If this happens to be the case with your baby you could try initiating a feeding when she is drowsy and just slipping into an active state or even if she is in REM sleep (Caldwell et al., 2006).

Learn about feeding cues by watching this video…

References:

De Carvalho, M., Robertson, S., Friedman, A., & Klaus, M. (1983). Effect of Frequent Breast-Feeding on Early Milk Production and Infant Weight Gain. Pediatrics, 72(3), 307.

Caldwell, K., Turner-Maffei, C., O’Connor, B., Cadwell Blair, A., Arnold, L. D. W., Blair, E. (2006). Maternal and infant assessment for breastfeeding and human lactation: A guide for the practitioner. Sudbury, MA: Jones and Bartlett Publishers.