Successful Breastfeeding: A Beginner's Guide To Getting Started

uccessful Breastfeeding: A Beginner's Guide To Getting Started. This guide is suitable for mothers with newborns who want to get started with breastfeeding. It has been prepared following government guidelines and advice from experienced midwives.

Step 1: Getting Started

Avoid having to interrupt a feed by having everything to hand before you begin. Choose a peaceful place to sit where you and the baby can feel relaxed. If you have an older
child it helps to make sure they feel included and have something to occupy them, so sit them near you with something to play with. Sit upright, make yourself comfortable with support for the neck and maybe a cushion on your knee to support your arm and the baby.
Step 2: Latching on

Latching on' is when the baby takes the nipple in her mouth and starts sucking - to begin with, you'll have to help her. Hold your baby in the crook of your arm in an almost lying down position with her cheek near to your breast. With your free hand gently but firmly squeeze your nipple around the areola area and direct it into the baby's mouth.

Imagine you are making the tip of your breast into the shape of the end of a flat, oval ice lolly. Remember that the baby has to take the whole of the area including the areola into her mouth, not just the nipple. Gently but firmly push the end of the breast, including the areola, into the baby's mouth. Her natural sucking reflex should help her start to feed. If you don't succeed try again, but relax, take your time and sooth your baby if she is frustrated. If YOU get wound up it will make it harder for the milk to flow.
Step 3: Completing a feed

Continue to hold your breast and nipple in the baby's mouth, especially if your breasts feel hard and full, as the baby may find it hard to maintain contact. After some minutes your baby might stop feeding. Gently lift her upright, hold her so her face is resting on your shoulder and rub her back, as she may need to burp. Try to feed once more. If you baby has had enough she won't latch on. If she is hungry she will root for your nipple. Remember to take your time, a good feed can take up to an hour! During the feed the milk changes in quality. In the first few minutes the breast produces 'foremilk, which is watery and will quench the babies thirst, after this the baby gets to the 'hind' milk which is rich in calories. It's important to let the baby have at least 15 minutes on each breast before changing to the other so she gets both kinds of milk.
Step 4: Finishing the feed

Babies, especially newborns, fall asleep when they've had enough. They normally fall asleep at the breast, their mouth open. Sometimes the baby will fall asleep but suck intermittently for comfort. Don't let the baby do this for more than a minute or you may end up with sore nipples.
Step 5: Taking the baby off the breast

If the baby is still latched on, slide your finger between your nipple and her mouth, to ease suction. If you just pull your baby off the breast, it will hurt! It's normal to have sore nipples to begin with, especially if your baby feeds a lot in one day during a growth spurt.
Step 6: Looking after yourself

Mothers need on average 500 extra calories a day, so eat if you're hungry or have cravings for sweet things. However try to keep to a healthy balanced diet - and make sure you eat plenty of protein. You will need to drink more water than usual, especially during hot weather. To have a good supply of milk don't overdo it, try to sit down and get some rest throughout the day.
Step 7: Remember

Currently most health experts are pro-breastfeeding. But overall most people acknowledge that a happy mother equals a happy baby. Breastfeeding doesn't work out for everybody for a variety of reasons. Don't feel guilty if you can't do it or if you need to supplement it with bottles. See the second part of our breastfeeding film for tips on establishing feeding for your growing baby and solutions to feeding problems. Good luck!

Thanks for watching video Successful Breastfeeding: A Beginner's Guide To Getting Started For more how to videos, expert advice, instructional tips, tricks, guides and tutorials on this subject, visit the topic Breastfeeding.