Mom

Breastfeeding tips

When I was pregnant with my first son I didn’t think about how I fed him?
Is it breastfeeding or formula feeding?

I thought it would be easy but I found it difficult.
First I tried to breastfeed but there is no milk and my baby was crying, he was hungry addition to he refused to take formula so I found a breast pump in my room and ask my nurse to use it,

she brought to me a new kit and start to learn how to use it and how to breastfeed correctly.

this pump was helping me to feed my baby my first milk ( colostrum), but It was painful and my nipples were sore.

when I saw my son start to latch, I stopped using the pump.

I know that breastfeeding will be challenged especially during the first few weeks after childbirth.

It is normal to have problems when you start breastfeeding for the first time even if it is your second or third time, my problems were the same at the first and second time.

Latching is an important part of having a good breastfeeding experience.

What is latching?

It is how your baby’s mouth attaches to your nipple to breastfeed.
Teaching your baby how to latch on your breast properly is very important

Why do babies have trouble latching?

1. His position is wrong with your breast
2. He has a problem with his mouth, tongue, and lips like tongue die and cleft lip
3. If you introduce a bottle or pacifier too early he may refuse your nipple
4. If he was born early ” small baby sucks weakly “
5. The shape of nipples such as they are flat or inverted

• Poor latch affects you and causes some problems such as :

1. Cracked nipples
2. Overfilled breasts with milk
3. Breast infection
4. Plugged milk ducts and low milk supply

• How to help your baby latch?

• Before you begin to breastfeed, gently massage your breast with your fingertips from your chest toward your nipples in a circular motion to encourage milk flow, and repeat this step if you need.
  Hold your breast with your hand, four fingers underneath, and your thumb is above your nipple.
  Keep your fingers away from your nipple and baby mouth and make sure he can breathe properly

Tips to help baby to latch

1. Tickle your baby’s lips gently with your finger/ nipples.
2. When your baby opens his mouth, quickly put your entire nipples and much of the colored area around your nipples into the baby’s mouth
3. the tongue of your baby must be between your breast and his lower gum
   Don’t forget to burp your child when you switch breasts to help him get rid of the air.

How could you know if your baby latches properly?

If you notice these signs, he latches successfully

1. Silent sucking without causing you pain
2. Hear swallowing every 3-4 sucks
3. Muscle movement in front of baby’s ears while sucking.

These signs mean he is not latching successfully

1. sucking sound
2. Nipple pain

Successful breastfeeding

First: signs from you

1. Breasts that have increased in firmness, weight, and size 1-3 hours after feeding
2. Breasts that are softer immediately after breastfeeding
3. Increased milk volume plus the change in milk consistency and color by the fifth day of breastfeeding
4. Nipples that are not sore, cracked, or bleeding.

Second:signs from your baby

1. Relaxing of baby’s body
2. Falling asleep
3. A gradual decrease in the number of sucks
4. Letting go of your breast by himself
5. Retention of a small amount of milk in his mouth, after feeding your baby may spit up a small amount of milk it is normal.

Every mom wonders if her milk is sufficient for her baby or not here I will share with you signs that your baby is getting enough milk

1. Baby is wetting at least 3 diapers / 24 hours, the urine should be clear and pale yellow by age 5 days
2. At least 3 stools /24 hours by age 5 days (stool should be soft and yellow)
3. At least 3 stools /24 hours by age 7 days
   (Stool should be seedy and yellow)
4. Maximum 10% loss of baby’s weight during his first 3 days.
5. Average weight gain ( 4-7oz) (113-198g)/ week after age 4 days
6. No weight loss after the age of 2 weeks

Breastfeeding times, what should you do?

Breastfeeding times will vary from a baby to another, these rules will guide you to make sure that your baby is fed properly

1. Newborns ( babies from birth until age 4 weeks ) may breastfeed every 1-3 hours
2. Newborns shouldn’t exceed 3 hours during the day and 5 hours during the night without breastfeeding
3. You should breastfeed your baby a minimum of 8 times/ 24 hours until you begin to introduce solid foods
4. Every 20 minutes switch to another breast
5. If your baby falls asleep, you may need to wake him to continue his meal.

I hope this important information will help you on your motherhood journey and if you feel misunderstanding, call your baby health care provider to help you

Ref: the Brooklyn hospital center (instruction summary )

AboutPatrol Mom

My name is Rana, I'm an engineer, wife and mom of two, I found my passion in reading and research about everything related to kids, Here is my journey i'll be happy to share it with you and i hope to find the answers of questions in your head.