Breastfeeding : the secret to the first feeds
In France, 2/3 of infants are breastfed at birth but only one quarter of them are still breastfed after 3 months. What happens during this time? Many mums experience difficulties breastfeeding their child during the first few months of life. They then give up on the breastfeeding adventure due to pain and discomfort caused by it. In this article, we will provide you with some guidance and tips for a positive breastfeeding experience.
- Getting ready to breastfeed
- The “welcom” feed
- Milk production
- Breastfeeding on demand
- Is breastfeeding painful
Getting ready to breastfeed
Of course breastfeeding is natural, but it is not necessarily inborn for all mums! All women are “equipped” to breastfeed but each experience is different and some women may come up against minor obstacles. Rest assured, if you have all the information and proper support you can overcome them!
9 months to read up on it …
There are many books about breastfeeding and they can help you gain a theoretical insight into the subject. Many illustrated books will enable you to get to grips with breastfeeding but also to discover the different breastfeeding positions or even to know which accessories can help you while breastfeeding.
Preparing your body before breastfeeding?
At baby’s birth, and while breastfeeding, your breasts will be stimulated in a whole different way and your body may take some time getting used to it. Before baby’s birth, you can get your body ready! Remove your bra and try to leave your breasts in contact with the air or against your clothes for as long as possible.
Ask questions!
There is no one better than a breastfeeding expert to advise you, point you in the right direction or reassure you!
Why not participate in information sessions on breastfeeding before the birth, ask your midwife for advice or see an IBCLC lactation consultant to answer all your questions.
The “welcom” feed
Your baby has finally arrived! If all the conditions are met, as soon as your baby is out they can be laid down on your stomach for the first feed, which is also called the “welcome” feed.
You may see your little one crawl up to your breast to feed. How do they know where to go? Your nipple areola has an odour similar to that of the amniotic fluid in which your child bathed for 9 months! Thanks to its smell, they naturally locate the breast to get their “welcome” feed!
If for any reason you did not have your baby on you from birth, the “welcome” feed usually takes place in the first two hours following the birth. This is when baby is the most wide awake. Six hours after the birth their sucking reflexes begin to decrease.
Skin to skin contact
The benefits of skin to skin contact with baby from birth no longer need to be demonstrated! In effect, keeping baby close to you first of all means you can reassure them and allow them to relax. Contact with and the smell of mum’s skin remind them of inside the womb. This gentle contact also releases oxytocin, essential to the production of the liquid gold, also known as colostrum.
Milk production
As mentioned previously, it is important to offer baby the breast from their first few hours of life. In effect, baby’s suction triggers the production of a cocktail of hormones which make breast milk. The quicker baby can access the breast the quicker mum will produce milk!
The first milk, colostrum, is the first thing your baby will drink. It is a thick milk full of nutrients essential to baby during the first few hours of their life! An immune defence boost!
Between the 3rd and 6th day after the birth, milk starts to be produced!
It is not uncommon to hear that milk production is painful. Like for breastfeeding in general, each woman is different and will not experience the same sensations. To prevent discomfort, it is important to not restrict feeding from birth! The more baby latches on, the more milk will be produced.
If there has been a caesarean, delayed milk production often occurs. This is explained by the separation of the mother and child at birth. It is also the case for premature babies! However, in order to boost your lactation, you can use a breast pump which imitates a baby sucking. Your little poppet can still have your milk!
Breastfeeding on demand
How can you know if a baby is feeding enough?
It is true to say you may feel lost to begin with and not know if your baby is feeding enough! Remember your infant’s stomach is the size of a hazelnut at birth. To begin with they will feed mainly to stimulate milk production.
Little by little, their stomach grows, and their appetite will also grow accordingly. After a few days you should be feeding between 8 and 12 times a day!
Breastfeeding is put in place gradually and that is perfectly normal! You need time to understand you and your baby! The more often they breastfeed the more your milk production will be optimal.
But when should I get my baby to breastfeed?
You need to observe them to know when it is the right time! In particular, look for signs of them waking or signs of hunger. If your little one is sticking their tongue out or rolling their eyes or opening their hands, there is a strong chance they want to feed!
Many mums give up on breastfeeding after the first weeks as they unfortunately experience difficulties. However, it takes around 4 to 6 weeks after the baby’s birth for lactation to fall into place. Therefore it is common to come up against minor concerns in the first few weeks, but after that, your breastfeeding adventure with your little sweetie should go pretty smoothly!
Is breastfeeding painful ?
Engorgement
Engorgement is a common concern during milk production! It can affect one or both breasts. The increase in milk production leads to heavy and tight breasts. If the milk is not expressed, the affected breast can become hard as stone, very sensitive and painful. The mum may also experience sensations of heat or even have a fever. If the fever increases and there is a rash on just one of the two breasts, it is preferable to see a doctor to rule out mastitis (breast inflammation).
To relieve engorgement, there is only one solution, to drain the breast! To do that, having baby feed is the best option! This makes it possible to regulate milk production and prevent future engorgement. You can also express the milk manually (massages also relax the breast) or using a breast pump.
Cracks from breastfeeding
A crack is a nipple wound caused by irritation of the nipple due to an incorrect feeding position or incorrect tongue or mouth placement when latching on.
It begins with discomfort then pain, redness, swelling and cracks end up appearing! If the cause is not corrected, the irritated area is replaced by a painful wound which can bleed.
To avoid cracks, the first thing to do is to correct your child’s position on the breast and have maternity ward staff check if your baby is latching on properly. You can also protect the skin between feeds using a lanolin-based cream or even using dressings wet with breast milk.
When you remove your baby from the breast do not pull! Think of your nipple! The best way is to slip your little finger into baby’s mouth and to press on their gum to painlessly remove the nipple.
Is baby latching on properly?
If there is one thing you should remember, nipple sensitivity aside, breastfeeding is never meant to hurt.
If pain persists, it is often a sign that something is wrong!
First possibility, baby’s position on the breast is not the right one! An incorrect position leads to cracks and pain when baby feeds. To resolve this problem, feel free to see a midwife or lactation consultant who will know what to advise for the best for finding the cause of the pain and relieving it.
Find out more about breastfeeding positions
Second possibility, baby has a problem with their palate, a frenum of tongue which impedes correct tongue position and effective suction. It is important to see a doctor in this case. If ever the pain is severe, persists throughout the feed and/or persists after the first 3-4 days, see a midwife who is used to managing breastfeeding concerns or a lactation consultant.
Food supplements for breastfeeding
There are several types of food supplements that the mum can take while breastfeeding. They are more or less natural and come in different forms such as capsules, herbal teas, phytotherapy solutions… These food supplements can help promote milk production, recover from fatigue and improve the mother’s overall well-being.
To finish, breastfeeding is not necessarily easy for all mums! Remember that the most important thing is to have a close support network and also support from breastfeeding specialists (midwife, IBCLC lactation consultant) who can help you overcome any obstacles you may come up against while breastfeeding.
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