Top Tips on Breastfeeding
Problems with breastfeeding can be very upsetting and painful for new mothers.
- To keep your baby awake during feeding, compress the outer edge or ‘rim’ of the breast. By flattening the breast tissue furthest away from the nipple, you will create a manual letdown or flush of milk. Your baby will have to start swallowing again or come off the breast.
- Always offer a two-part feed, separated with a winding/burping session and nappy change. It is normal for babies to fall asleep after 15 minutes of feeding. Therefore a nappy change in between will wake your baby before continuing the feed. If after the second part your baby allows you to take the breast out of their mouth without crying, they have had enough.
- To know whether your baby is getting enough hind milk, check to ensure that their poo is yellow in colour. If they are spinach green colour, your baby is getting too much foremilk.
- You are producing and feeding enough if your baby is gaining between 20 and 30g of milk each day.
- If your baby’s poos are green or your nipples are sore, your baby may not be getting enough food, and may be asking to be fed more frequently. You will need help with your positioning and attachment so that your baby latches well, and drains the breast to increase your supply.
Breastfeeding Top Tips Brought to you by
Independent Breastfeeding Specialist, Geraldine Miskin, with over 15 years experience helping mums and babies. She has studied human lactation since 2002, sourcing breastfeeding courses from around the world, such as the Australasian Lactation Course and completed the standard breastfeeding courses including the Unicef Baby Friendly course and the Maternity Practitioner course. Geraldine’s Let’s Breastfeed Practice and online breastfeeding books have helped thousands of mums worldwide enjoy blissful breastfeeds. Speak to Geraldine at www.greatvine.com/geraldine-miskin and www.letsbreastfeed.com
Veena V says
It took me about 2 weeks to properly get used to breastfeeding. If you want to do it, don’t give up. For the first week, I had to express milk and feed my little one with a syringe as he kept falling asleep and I had problems with him latching on. Check out the other Brestfeeding topics for more top tips and my experiences! Also don’t let anyone make you feel guilty if you can’t breastfeed, everyone is different and some woman simply can’t do it.
