BREASTFEEDING – The Basics of Breastfeeding

Why Breastfeed?

Benefits for Mom:

Benefits for Baby:

Helps strengthen baby’s immunity
Helps bonding between mother and baby
Decreases risk of allergies in baby
Provides the “right food” for baby’s daily needs (composition changes throughout the day)
Decreases risk of stomach bugs, middle ear infections, respiratory disease, urinary infections than in bottle fed babies

What’s in Breastmilk?

Colostrum:

Already present at birth
Yellow and creamy, rich in protein
Laxative effect clears meconium / reduces the risk of jaundice
Gives baby antibodies so helps resistance to infection
Baby takes small quantities for first 2-3 days then is replaced by milk, which “comes in” after the first few days

Mature breastmilk contains the perfect balance of proteins, carbohydrates, fats, minerals and vitamins for your baby, plus factors that help

How Does It Work?

Milk Supply:

When baby is born, prolactin levels rise and stimulate the breasts to produce milk
As baby feeds, breasts empty, brain gets a message to replace the milk, body releases prolactin which stimulates the breast to make more milk, so baby always has enough i.e. supply and demand
If baby doesn’t feed well for some reason, milk supply will be affected
Always get baby well positioned and allow to feed as long and as often as you desire or baby wants
If you can’t breast feed for a time, express at baby’s feeding times to support your milk supply, so that you don’t run the risk of your supply decreasing or drying up

Milk Release – The Let Down Reflex

When baby sucks at the breast, oxytocin is released. This causes the star-shaped muscle cells around the milk glands in the breast to contract and squeeze out the breast milk, called the “let down reflex”
Foremilk is already present when baby starts to suck (before let down). Foremilk is blueish and thin and contains high protein, but low fat and thus can be drunk quickly and in high quantities.
Hind milk is released with the let down reflex. Babies sucking slows down and thus baby takes in smaller quantities, but hind milk is higher in calories (fat) and thus it is the hind milk that satisfies babies hunger (the foremilk is thought to satisfy babies thirst).
Sometimes a tingling sansation is felt by Mum at “let down”. What’s more, Mum can set it off just by relaxing and thinking of her baby!
May make you feel ‘sexy’ (oxytocin is also released in lovemaking)!

Milk Composition – getting the right balance

Varies throughout the day to suit baby’s needs
Changes during the feed (foremilk / hindmilk)
Baby will get a good balance if allowed to feed when she is hungry and to stay on the breast until he / she pulls off
Let the baby finish one breast before offering the other. Alternate sides from one feed to the next feed – try to avoid favouring one side over the other
Good positioning is essential to ensure baby feeds long enough to get to the hindmilk and to avoid supply complications
Feeding times vary from baby to baby and with age and sometimes increase when baby is having a growth spurt (common every 3 weeks in the first few months)
DON’T FEED UNLESS WELL POSITIONED!

Feeding

Relax
Have a glass of water handy; also tissues and a burp cloth and or nursing apron
Be comfortable, undisturbed and uninhibited
Breathe deeply and slowly
Calm the baby first; hold baby close
Position your baby nose to nipple, tummy to mummy, straight back and head (slightly tilted back)
Make sure baby gets a good mouthful – latch her on as soon as her mouth opens wide
Encourage feeding by stroking her lips with the nipple, if necessary
Don’t put presssure on the breast (can block milk ducts)
Bring baby to breast, not breast to baby

Source: National Childbirth Trust (NCT) Ante-natal Course (London, UK, Sept 2005) Republished by Peas in a Pod (SA)