Michael Bishop, M.D.

Mary McDavitt, M.D.

Laurel Scott, M.D.

Amanda Nguyen, C.P.N.P.

Member
AAP
American Academy of Pediatrics

Breastfeeding

Breastfeeding is often a decision that a mother/parents make before the baby is born. Inform your OB/GYN doctor of your decision. Your doctor will help you prepare by examining the mother's breasts to ensure a good beginning for you and your baby.

Also, be sure to let the staff at the hospital know your decision to breastfeed your baby. Request that hospital staff allow baby to stay with mom for at least one hour after delivery. The baby is often alert after delivery and breastfeeding is an instinctive drive in the first hours after birth. This often is a successful beginning to a great breastfeeding experience.

If you receive a lot of pain medication during your labor, you may need two hours or more with the baby after delivery. The medication can cause a slower instinctive latch-on by the baby.

If you have a C-section and plan to breastfeed, ask hospital staff to place your baby at the breast during recovery time. Even though you, as the mother, may be sedated, the baby can have a successful first breastfeeding experience during the time period when the instinctive drive to breastfeed is strong.

Benchmarks of a Successful Beginning

Your chance for successful breastfeeding will be improved if you and your baby have at least two successful nursing experiences in the first 12 hours after your baby's birth.

If, by the 12th hour after birth, the baby is not breastfeeding well, mom may want to consider using a breast pump every two hours to help establish the milk supply. Otherwise, a delay in the breast milk "coming in" may occur.

Research has shown that babies who spend more time skin-to-skin with their moms nurse better than babies who spend most of their time in the nursery. The baby's heart beat is regulated by the mother's heart. The baby's body heat is stabilized by the mother's warmth. Both mother and baby experience a hormonal contentment by the close contact.

New mothers should instruct hospital staff that they DO NOT want their babies to have water or formula in the nursery. Instead, rooming in, and feeding the baby on cue are keys to early breastfeeding success.

For more information and breastfeeding help, call our office. Our nurses are happy to help you make breastfeeding a rewarding experience for both of you.

Breastfeeding at Home

Sometimes breastfeeding a newborn can be a very frustrating and lonely experience. You are not alone!

Please call our office if you have any questions or concerns about your breastfeeding experience. We can arrange for a lactation consultant to visit you if necessary.

Most newborns will breastfeed every 2-3 hours. A baby's stomach is about the size of its fist - not very big - and needs frequent refilling.

Babies nurse best at their best times. Watch your baby for signs of hunger: making smacking noises, mouthing hands, early waking and stretching. Offering the baby the breast at these times is often a successful feeding time - before the baby is too frustrated and hungry.

Tips for Latch-on

• Point the nipple at the baby's nose (appears a little off-center). This places the bottom portion of the areola in the baby's mouth. This increases milk production. The baby's mouth will move UP to the breast. Baby's head should TILT, making the mouth gape open.

• Another way to make the baby's mouth gape open is by moving baby to and then away from breast, drawing baby quickly in when mouth opens. This takes patience!

• Place your baby with its tummy turned towards mom.

• Mom should hold her breast with her hand shaped like a "C."

• Studies have found that offering the left breast first can be helpful, perhaps because the baby hears the mom's heart beat.

Reasons to Call for Help

• If you find it takes 40 minutes to nurse your baby.

• If you nipples are sore, cracked or bleeding.

• If your baby is consistently sleeping more than four hours in between feedings.

• If your baby is very fussy.

• If you are not seeing bright yellow stools or wet diapers.

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