Breast-feeding. Rules for successful breastfeeding

Mom's milk is the best food for a child, created in accordance with all his needs. Establishing breastfeeding is simple - just follow the recommendations developed by the World Health Organization.

Early start is the key to long feeding

To keep the breast skin clean, it is enough to rinse it once a day during the shower. No need to wash it with soap before every feeding.
Dry skin of the areola after feeding can be lubricated with vegetable oil (olive, almond).
Cracks in the nipples are well treated with Purelan cream or Bepanthen ointment. Some women find silicone areola pads helpful.
You need to wear a comfortable cotton bra with wide straps, without wires.

And you don't have to skimp!

We have already said that with a well-established nutrition of newborn milk, exactly as much milk is produced in the breast as the baby sucks out. If you decant after feeding is completed, then next time more milk will come, you will have to decant again, etc.

With powerful bursts of milk in the first weeks (hyperlactation), you can slightly express the full breast before feeding, if the baby cannot capture the areola, or if it chokes on a powerful stream of milk.

Refuse daily weighing of the baby, the absence or presence of an increase is not a sign of a lack of nutrition. Especially indicative of weighing before and after feeding. WHO recommends weighing babies no more than once a month.

Until what age should you breastfeed?

WHO recommends continued breastfeeding up to two years of age. Mother's milk will help the child to endure diseases and teething more easily. The breast will calm the baby and enable him and his mother to feel more comfortable in times of crisis.

Only a mother knows how to properly and for how long to breastfeed her baby. Therefore, rely on the above recommendations, watch the baby, listen to yourself - and you will provide yourself and your baby with a long and complete feeding without any problems.

Whatever people say about the fact that in modern life there are fewer and fewer women who can breastfeed their children, this is completely wrong! Any woman who has mammary glands, having given birth to a child, can establish successful breastfeeding. The only exceptions are women who cannot breastfeed for health reasons.

Only three percent of women have a shortage of milk. Often women give reasons such as stress or tension, but in fact, these reasons cannot be the reason for the lack of milk. If a woman decides to feed a child, and - most importantly - wants to do it, then she will have milk.
If you follow the rules of breastfeeding, then lactation successfully comes at the right time, and the baby receives all the vital components with mother's milk.

Key to successful breastfeeding

Desire to feed
Proper feeding technique
Compliance with the rules of breastfeeding,
If necessary, use the assistance of consultants for breastfeeding,
Support for husband and other family members
Successful experience of prolonged breastfeeding in familiar women.

Breastfeeding Rules

If the baby is properly attached to the breast, the mother will not experience negative consequences, no matter how long the baby suckles. Correct breastfeeding can protect a nursing mother from microtrauma, as well as from more serious consequences such as mastitis and lactostasis.

In the first month of a baby's life, you need to learn how to properly attach to the breast, but for the entire subsequent period of feeding, if the grip is incorrect, it is necessary to take the breast from the baby and give it again, correctly. At the same time, the kid will not experience stress, since the desire to learn is instinctively inherent in his nature, he is ready to use his mother's hint.

If the baby is taught to take the breast incorrectly, then both he and the mother will have to relearn. If the mother is confident in her actions, then retraining can take about 5-7 days. Even if the baby is naughty and does not want to learn how to take the nipple correctly, there is no need to stop trying, because the consequences will be more deplorable if you leave everything as it is. In the correct position, the baby will receive the necessary amount of endorphins, which helps him relieve stress. The baby receives this hormone of joy not only from the process of sucking, but also from mother's milk. Therefore, proper attachment is emotionally comfortable for the child. The stress from relearning will be incomparably less than if he experienced it with improper sucking, which could, in turn, lead to disturbances in the functioning of the nervous system. Also, improper breast capture can adversely affect the structure of the maxillofacial apparatus.

Correct application:

Does not cause discomfort to mother or baby
The nipples are not injured,
The baby is full, getting enough nutrition,
The duration of feeding can be any.

Incorrect application:

Painful sensations
Microcracks and injuries of the nipples, lactostasis, mastitis,
We have to reduce the duration of feeding,
The child is not getting enough food.

Body position when feeding

An important condition is that during feeding, a woman should take a comfortable position and position the baby. This will ensure the flow of milk and will prevent blockage of the thoracic ducts.

It is necessary to try different ways of feeding: lying on your side and from under your arm. These two feeding positions are tried from the first days of a baby's life, and then practiced in feeding in a sitting position.

Feeding on demand

The process of feeding is mutual, feeding should take place both at the request of the child and the mother.

More often, the frequency of feeding is determined by the baby, his crying, restless behavior, turning his head in all directions express the demand of the breast. In the first months, the baby should be brought to the breast at any time for the slightest reason. This will not only help to satiate him, but also provide him with emotional peace.

Regular application helps to establish good lactation. At first, the newborn is applied to the breast about 15-20 times. He is not able to overeat, since his gastrointestinal tract is used to continuous feeding even in the womb and assimilates milk in any quantity. Moreover, there will be no more milk than the baby needs in the breast. Breast milk has enzymes for digestion. Breast milk is a unique product that helps to digest itself.

Feeding frequency

The baby will not chaotically require feeding, his need for milk has a given rhythm throughout the day. For the first two months, the baby takes a break between feedings for about an hour and a half. Sucking usually turns into sleep towards the end, which indicates that the baby feels complete comfort. If the child is restless during sucking, sucks the breast longer, more often applied to it - you need to look for the cause of his discomfort. This is usually the behavior of babies who have had a difficult birth and have increased anxiety. But over time, the stress is compensated, and the breast demand will decrease to normal. From two months, the baby asks for a breast every two hours and still falls asleep at the end of feeding. At night, the rhythm of feeding does not change.

By five or six months, breastfeeding becomes less frequent, but usually at least 12 times a day. The child still falls asleep at the end. By this time, the mother's milk production is normalized, it arrives as much as the baby needs.

Feeding at the request of the mother

During breastfeeding, mother and baby form something like a tandem, it is assumed that desires will be satisfied on both sides. The mother may also feel the need to breastfeed her baby one and a half to two hours after feeding. This desire corresponds to the rhythm of his needs, so it can also be realized. This usually happens when the baby's sleep is delayed and the breasts are full of milk. A mother can give a breast to a sleeping baby, and he will instinctively grab the nipple and begin to suck. The processes of feeding and sleeping can occur in parallel, without interfering with one another. Babies love to sleep next to their mother, sucking on the nipple. This is especially good for babies who are weak, underweight, or born prematurely.

Feeling hungry and feeding

An infant does not experience hunger in the same way that adults experience hunger. This desire arises in them by about six months. And a newly born baby feels discomfort, which he quenches by sucking. This habit is laid down in utero, and so is laid down by nature: the baby quenches any discomfort by sucking. Only at the mother's breast is the baby able to quickly find peace, and at the same time eat. In this regard, feeding on demand helps to achieve emotional comfort and satiety. A newborn may oversleep during feeding due to the fact that he is not able to feel hunger. In this case, there is a need to feed the mother, associated with breast overflow, which allows you not to take long breaks in feeding and saturating the baby at the right time.

Feeding at the request of the mother is realized up to about 8 months of the child, until he begins to feel hungry.

Duration of feedings

The baby, having satiated, releases the breast from the mouth itself, there is no need to take it away. This process occurs for each baby individually - some take half an hour, while others suck for more than an hour.

The process of feeding is distributed in such a way that first the “front” milk comes to the child, it is more liquid, saturated with minerals and carbohydrates, and after a few minutes of sucking it gets to the “back”, fatty and saturated with proteins. That is, first the child drinks and then eats. When sucking "hind" milk, he enters the sleep phase, since fats contribute to drowsiness, and sucks sluggishly at the breast. At this moment, the mother may mistakenly think that the baby is full, and it is too early to take the breast, because the baby has not yet received valuable nutritious milk. It is at the moment of sluggish sucking that the child is able to fully saturate. A young mother should be alarmed by the reverse behavior of a child under the age of two months, when, after eating for 5 minutes, he throws his breast and does not sleep.

From two to three months, babies feel the need for short-term breastfeeding to calm down, and long-term, with sleep, which contribute to rest and full saturation.

Feeding from both breasts

The child should not be given the other breast until he has emptied the first, so that he has had time to get enough of both foremilk and hindmilk. If the baby is not able to fully get enough, then this can be an impetus to disruption of the digestive system. Each breast should be given for 1-2 hours, and only then changed. Only by six months the child may require sucking both breasts in one feeding.

Co-sleeping and night feedings

At night, processes take place that have a beneficial effect on milk production, so the benefits of night feedings are invaluable. The process of feeding between 3 and 8 o'clock in the early morning stimulates lactation.

Co-sleeping helps mom get better rest by making feeding easier because you don't have to jump out of bed to feed your baby. Cases when a mother is able to fall asleep and crush the baby can only occur if she has drunk sleeping pills or is drunk. The kid himself will not allow him to be crushed, feeling uncomfortable and starting to resist and scream.

Breastfed baby:

Does not require supplementary feeding, as breast milk provides all his needs.
Does not require soldering. There is no need to give your child dill water or teas, because milk contains up to 90 percent water, providing the child with fluid even in hot climates. Supplementing with water can create a false sense of fullness, which reduces the baby's need for milk and can lead to weight loss.
Does not require bottle feeding or pacifier sucking.

Breast hygiene

Frequent washing of the breast washes off the special grease that protects the skin, drying occurs, and microcracks can form, microorganisms can enter through them, which can lead to the development of mastitis. In this regard, it is not necessary to wash the mammary glands before each feeding, a daily shower is enough.

Pumping

When feeding on demand, there is no need for pumping. It is necessary to express only in such cases:

lactostasis,
mastitis,
in the treatment of sores on the nipples,
with insufficient lactation,
during the separation of the mother from the baby, to maintain lactation.

How can you tell if your baby is getting enough milk?

A urination count test and weight check once a month will help determine if your baby is getting enough milk. A healthy, well-developing baby adds 100 to 450 grams per week in weight. Frequent weighings do not carry information, and lead to unnecessary stress.

The urination count is more informative. If the baby urinates at least 6-8 times in 24 hours, this may mean that he is not suffering from dehydration, but his nutrition needs to be strengthened. And 10-20 urinations speak of good nutrition.

By following all these breastfeeding rules, we are sure that you will be able to establish successful lactation and give your child everything necessary for his growth and development.

A woman, while still pregnant, must make a clear decision to breastfeed. This forms a dominant in the brain for the formation and development of lactation. Proper breastfeeding is not possible without an internal setting. The support of family and friends in this matter is important.

Second rule: the first feeding of a baby

Ideally, the first application of a newborn is carried out in the delivery room. Early contact contributes to the development of lactation and the colonization of the skin and intestines of the newborn with bifidum flora. How to properly apply a newborn for feeding, the medical staff will show. If the condition of the child or the puerperal does not allow this, the first attachment to the breast is transferred. If the woman is in a satisfactory condition, the medical staff teaches self-pumping. This skill will not allow the extinction of milk production and the development of lactostasis. In the absence of contraindications, the child can be fed with expressed milk during a separate stay.

The third rule: the correct attachment of the child to the breast

The problem of how to properly attach a baby to the breast, especially for the first time, is very important. How to take a breast, the newborn is still unknown. And mom needs to remember or learn to how to breastfeed your baby:

immediately before feeding, the mother needs to wash her hands and pour warm water over her breasts;
Decide on a position for feeding. Usually this is sitting (reclining) or standing (after an episiotomy);
the child is placed on the crook of the elbow, the other hand brings the nipple as close as possible to the mouth of the baby;
obeying the reflexes, the baby will grab the nipple and start sucking;
the breast should be given so that the baby captures the nipple and almost the entire areola with his mouth. At the same time, its lower lip will be slightly turned out, the chin and nose touches the chest.

The child's nose should not sink. How to properly apply the baby for feeding is also important for the health of the mother. If it is wrong to breastfeed a newborn, several breast problems can be acquired. First of all, these are macerations and cracks in the nipples.

breastfeeding a newborn, especially the first few days, should be no more than 20 minutes each. This will allow the delicate skin of the nipples to harden and get used to the new effect.

Often this does not work out. The child may be restless or have a large body mass and constantly demand to eat. In such cases, a nursing mother needs to arrange air baths more often and lubricate the nipples with healing ointments, such as Bepanten.

one feeding - one breast. If the child ate everything from it and did not eat enough, offer a second one. Start the next feeding with the last one. So the child will receive not only foremilk, but also hind milk.

Fourth rule: signs of production and flow of milk to the breast

The symptoms of lactation are:

tingling or tightness in the chest;
the secretion of milk during the crying of the child;
for each sucking of the baby there is a sip of milk;
leakage of milk from the free breast during feeding.

These signs indicate the formed active reflex of oxytocin. Lactation is established.

Fifth rule: feeding on demand

Newborn babies need to be fed frequently. In Soviet times, there were rules according to which breastfeeding was carried out every three hours and no more than twenty minutes. Nowadays, it is recommended to feed the baby on demand. Give breasts literally at the first squeak. Particularly capricious and demanding children almost every hour. This allows you to feed the baby and give him a feeling of warmth and care.

Frequent applications relieve the need for mandatory pumping and serve as a prevention of lactostasis. And night feedings will serve as an excellent stimulation of the main hormone of lactation - prolactin.

How much to breastfeed in time, ideally, the baby himself determines. If you turn away or fall asleep, it means you are full. Over time, the baby will eat less.

Sixth rule: sufficiency of feeding

Women's milk in the process of its evolution goes through certain stages: colostrum, transitional, mature milk. Their quantity and quality composition ideally meets the needs of the newborn. They also produce early and late milk. The first is produced at the very beginning of feeding, rich in water and proteins. The second comes from the back of the mammary gland, it has more fat. It is important for the baby to get both.

There are times when it seems to the mother that she does not have milk and the child does not eat enough. To determine the adequacy of feeding, there are certain criteria:

restoration of body weight at birth by the 10th day of life with an initial loss of 10%;
6 - 18 wet diapers per day;
the child poops 6 - 10 times a day;
positive oxytocin reflex;
audible swallowing of the baby during sucking.

Seventh rule: accounting possible feeding problems

flat or inverted nipples. In some cases, by the time of delivery, this difficulty is solved by itself. Others need to remember that the baby, when sucking, must capture both the nipple and most of the areola. Before feeding, try to stretch the nipple yourself. Find an acceptable position for feeding. For many mothers, a comfortable position is "from under the arm." Use silicone pads. If the breast is tight and it is difficult for the newborn to suck from it, pump. The breast will become softer in 1-2 weeks. And the child will not be deprived of mother's milk.

No need to try to "pull out" the nipples before childbirth. Excessive stimulation will lead to an increase in the tone of the uterus. Over time, an actively suckling baby will normalize everything.

cracked nipples. The basis of prevention is proper breastfeeding. If cracks appear, use silicone pads. Make applications with lanolin ointment and Bepanthen as often as possible. If the cracks are deep and feeding is painful, use a breast pump;
milk flow. Easily solved by using special inserts. They are disposable and reusable;
a lot of milk, and the child chokes on it. Express some fore milk. When feeding, it will flow out under less pressure;
engorgement of the mammary glands. Occurs when overfilled with milk. The chest is sore, swollen, hot to the touch, and very hard. Milk does not flow out of it. If this problem occurs, it is necessary to quickly remove milk from the breast. Attach your baby often or pump. Take a warm shower before feeding. Do a light chest massage. This will improve outflow. To reduce swelling after feeding, apply a cold compress;
lactostasis and mastitis. Occurs when the milk ducts are blocked. The body temperature rises, the chest hurts, the place of stagnation turns to stone. Pumping is painful. A warm shower, gentle breast massage and frequent breastfeeding come to the rescue. When an infection is attached, antibiotics are required.

Infectious mastitis is a formidable complication that requires medical intervention. Non-conversion is fraught with surgical intervention up to the loss of the breast.

lactation crises. They develop at 3-6 weeks, at 3-4 and 7-8 months of a child's life. During these periods, the most important thing is to apply more often and be sure to feed the baby at night. Drink teas with lemon balm, fennel and cumin. Rest and eat well.

Breastfeeding a baby is a laborious, but delightful, natural process. Remember this and everything will work out.

Breastfeeding is a natural way to saturate newborn babies with useful elements and prepare their immunity for adulthood. This method of feeding is the safest, most convenient and economical. Therefore, the issue of breastfeeding is very important. This article will focus on its basic rules, following which you will be able to avoid a large number of problems that modern mothers have. As a rule, their cause is pressure from the media, various manufacturers of goods, the immediate environment, and, of course, from not knowing the issue. In this regard, after the birth of a baby, a woman is in a kind of informational vacuum: she does not know what to do, and expects that everything will go by itself. As a result, difficulties arise, and these first wrong steps, tips that we hear from outside (even medical workers) turn out to be ineffective. And that woman, who was very positive about breastfeeding, suddenly "discovers" herself unable to feed and dependent on mixtures.

It is important to understand that the correct implementation of certain recommendations in the early stages of feeding a child will help to feed him successfully and efficiently throughout the entire path of natural feeding. Currently, the situation is such that only 5% of women can cope with breastfeeding on their own, lactate as much as they see fit and have no problems without resorting to any intervention and special education. And the remaining 95% face difficulties. With what it is connected, we will talk in this article.

Dear future and present mothers, calm down and relax. Believe me, every woman can breastfeed. According to some reports, only 1-2% have objective reasons for not having such an opportunity: the first, when the body does not produce enough hormones responsible for lactation, the second, the absence of both glands.

Breastfeeding Tips for New Breastfeeding Moms

Proper attachment while breastfeeding

During feeding, a woman should produce a hormoneresponsible for the "ejection" of milk at a particular moment. Its quality production depends on the calmness of the woman, which is why it is so important that her body be relaxed. Therefore, the position should be chosen as convenient as possible for you, and, of course, for the baby. Any position will do.

Sitting feeding requires that your hands have some kind of support, such as the arm of a chair or a pillow. If you feed lying down, then you do not need to hang on your arm over the baby, since in this position the arm, shoulder and neck are very tense. As you might guess, you won’t be able to have a good rest, but many mothers have time to take a nap and relax if they do everything right.

Breastfeeding lying down

Put the baby next to you, hug him with one hand, and form a fold at the chest with the other and serve it. The child should not be placed on your arm, it will not be comfortable for him. It is best to position it along your body. There is no need to hold and squeeze the chest, you can calmly let it go or support it from below with your palm.

Sitting breastfeeding

At first, it is better and more convenient to start feeding while sitting. But if you do not have such an opportunity (for example, after a cesarean), feed lying down.

The most common nursing position is called the Cradle. You sit, hold the baby in one hand, his head and body are in line and the nose looks at the nipple. The task of a woman is only to cause a reflex of opening her mouth. To do this, you can touch the baby's cheek or lips with your finger. Thanks to this, the search reflex “turns on”: the baby opens his mouth and begins to move his head in order to find the breast.

The nipple should be held as deep as possible into the mouth. Why do it? The fact is that if the child is not attached correctly, then he will rub the nipple with his gums and tongue on the hard palate. As a result of which cracks and other injuries occur, breastfeeding can become painful.

In order to give the baby the breast as deeply as possible, one should not offer him to take the nipple on his own, but still make a movement towards the meeting.

So, first you form a fold from the breast (your fingers should not touch the areola, put them as far away from the nipple as possible), place it parallel to the baby’s mouth, cause his mouth opening reflex and “dress” the baby on the chest (at the moment of maximum opening mouth, make a movement towards a meeting with the help of the hand on which it lies). Try to ensure that the lower lip of the child during the opening is approximately in the place where it will be the whole process. This is all done quite simply than it might seem at first glance, so you will quickly learn. ;)

Hooray, the baby is attached. :) Remember that in no case should you press your hand on your chest and on the head of the child, it is enough to hold it with your palm. Relax and lean back in your chair.

You will feel and see how the baby will make quick sucking movements. This way it stimulates your nipple. The chest is a large reflex zone. Thanks to its stimulation, a simple and at the same time very vital reflex occurs - a signal is sent to your brain about the need to release milk, and your body will now feed the baby. Due to this, oxytocin begins to be produced.

What does a properly attached baby look like?

You can use your clean finger to push back the breast tissue a little to see how wide the baby's mouth is. If, relatively speaking, this “angle” is about 120 degrees, then everything is fine. The baby's lips should be turned outwards. Explicit smacking speaks of improper attachment.

Duration of breastfeeding

The time of the feeding process may be different. It is important to understand that a baby breastfeeds not only for the purpose of satiation, but also for the purpose of feeling a connection with you, as well as satisfying the need to suckle. Therefore, you should not limit the child in this without a good reason (you do not need to urgently run somewhere, etc.).

If the feeding is prolonged, then he receives all the fractions of milk, which can be conditionally divided into “front” and “back”. "Forward" - more liquid, it has more enzymes, immune factors and sugars. "Rear" - thicker, it has more nutrients and fats. Enzymes found in the "forward" milk help to digest it. It is very important that the fractions are mixed and the child gets everything he needs. If the baby will eat mostly first, then there will be frequent urination, and slow weight gain. In addition, with longer feeding, the likelihood of abdominal pain decreases.

For the same reason, you should not change breasts often. Make sure that your breasts are "on duty" for 1.5-2 hours. By doing this, you will achieve full sucking and adjusting the amount of milk. But, of course, you should not focus on the clock. Everything is individual.

In a child, milk leaves the stomach rather quickly into the intestines, so after 20-30 minutes he can again ask for “food”. Mixtures cannot boast of this. They linger in the stomach for a long time, do not contain enzymes for their own digestion. The digestive tract of the baby has to work very hard and for a very long time. This is the reason why babies sleep long and soundly after drinking mixtures. In other words, they do not have the strength to develop, explore the world and stay awake.

Very small ones should be offered breasts once an hour or an hour and a half. This will ensure good weight gain and the full development of a cheerful and cheerful baby. The older the children get, the less often they apply.

Harm of the nipples during breastfeeding

Enemy number one when breastfeeding is the nipple. The mechanisms of sucking nipples and breasts are completely different. If you offer your baby both, after a while there is a "nipple confusion" - the baby opens his mouth wide when he is given a pacifier and completely ignores the breast. The result is a violation of the stimulation of the mammary glands, milk becomes less and less.

What to do if your nipples hurt while breastfeeding

In this case, doctors often recommend using special breast pads. But they also negatively affect lactation, since proper attachment does not occur - the nipple is not deep enough in the baby's mouth.

When you start breastfeeding, your nipples will ALWAYS rub and hurt at first. For relief, it is recommended to use natural ointments with resin, vegetable oils, etc. Unpleasant sensations will pass faster only in the case of proper application. If you are unable to cope with this issue on your own, then consult with a breastfeeding specialist.

Breastfeeding is the best option for feeding newborns. With breast milk, the child receives all the microelements and vitamins necessary for his further development and growth. It is this method of feeding that is the safest, most convenient and economical.

Breastfeeding is an inherently natural process, which in most cases should proceed without problems and bring joy to mother and baby. It has long been noted that breastfeeding soothes the baby, gives him a sense of security and a sense of closeness with the most important person - mom. But not all mothers manage to easily and quickly establish proper breastfeeding. We hope that the tips and recommendations below will help women in this important matter.

#1: Early Breastfeeding: Making Contact with Your Baby

Experts have found that the sooner the baby is attached to the breast, the faster breastfeeding will be established. It is recommended to apply the newborn to the mother's breast for the first time no later than 1 hour after birth., therefore, in many maternity hospitals, they practice applying the baby in the first minutes after birth. It is very important for the baby to get colostrum, which appears in the mother immediately after childbirth and is useful in its properties.

Early attachment contributes not only to successful lactation, but also to the establishment of the first contact between mother and child. "skin to skin". This is their first meeting, direct contact, touch. For a newborn, it is especially important to feel the closeness of the mother, to hear her heartbeat. Plus, the first application contributes to a faster discharge of the placenta in parturient women, and contributes to the formation of intestinal microflora and immunity in a newborn baby.

Pediatrician, Candidate of Medical Sciences, Associate Professor Surovtseva Alla Pavlovna talks about the first application:

#2: Proper Latching Is the Basis for Successful Feeding

During the first feeding, it is important that the baby takes the breast correctly. At the same time, doctors should help the newly-made mother and check the baby's sucking reflex.

In the event that the newborn was attached to the breast incorrectly, the mother will subsequently have to face a number of troubles:

cracks in the nipples;
mastitis and lactostasis;
poor outflow of milk;
refusal of the child from the breast.

To avoid such problems, a woman in labor should consult with doctors and during each feeding, monitor the correct attachment of the baby to the breast.

Firstly, a woman should choose a position that is comfortable for herself and the newborn. Feeding in a sitting position or lying on its side is considered optimal. These positions help create a comfortable environment for feeding and ensure a good flow of milk. (See article about all).
Secondly, you need to follow how the baby captures the chest. It is considered correct to capture not only the nipple, but also the area around it.
Third, the mother should hold the breast and slightly direct it to the mouth of the baby.

Initially, correct application will save a woman from cracks and abrasions of the nipples, lactostasis. The baby, with proper attachment, will actively suck and gorge. If the attachment goes wrong, the mother will experience inconvenience and even pain during feeding, it will also be uncomfortable and difficult for the baby to suckle, and he may completely refuse breastfeeding.

In the case when the newborn does not grasp the breast correctly, you need to interrupt the feeding and offer him the breast again, substituting it for the correct capture. Don't be afraid or insecure. The baby will calmly accept this situation and will soon understand how to breastfeed.

But the uncertainty of the mother, in addition to all sorts of troubles, can also turn into retraining the child in the correct grip, which will take about 7-10 days. In some cases, it is improper attachment to the breast that is the primary reason for the refusal of a newborn from breastfeeding.

How to properly attach a baby to the breast, tells and shows a specialist in breastfeeding and child care Natalya Kudryashova:

#3: Feeding on demand is an important condition for breastfeeding

A few years ago, feeding by the hour was considered correct. In accordance with this, the child should be fed at regular intervals (usually every 3 hours).

Nowadays, the rules of breastfeeding have changed somewhat. Modern experts believe that feeding on demand is necessary for successful lactation and the absence of problems.

Each newborn needs an individual feeding schedule. In this regard, it is important to listen to the needs of the child and meet them on demand. Offer your baby the breast whenever he is naughty, whimpering, or opens his mouth in search of a source of milk. Even if the previous feeding was an hour ago. In addition, frequent application contributes to an increase in the amount of milk and better lactation.

Do not be afraid that when feeding on demand, the child will overeat. First, the baby will not eat more than he needs. Secondly, his stomach is adapted to the rapid absorption of breast milk. After some time, the child will form his own schedule, which will be optimally suited to his needs.

Feeding on demand favors the creation of psycho-emotional comfort of the newborn. The baby feels that his needs are met in a timely manner, which means that he is important and needed, he is loved. Such children grow up more balanced, calm and confident compared to those who were fed on time.

#4: Duration of Feeding: How Long Should Baby Breastfeed

The duration of feeding depends on several factors:

the sucking reflex of the baby and the efforts that he makes;
correct attachment to the chest;
satiety of the child.

On average, the feeding process lasts 20-30 minutes. However, there is no need to limit feeding to strict time frames. The baby will move away from the breast when it is full. The duration of feeding is due to the fact that at the beginning of feeding, the child receives early milk rich in water, minerals and carbohydrates (i.e., the baby drinks), and after 3-6 minutes of sucking it reaches hind milk, which is rich in fats and proteins. those. starts eating well.

In some cases, the baby may suckle the breast not only because of the feeling of hunger, but also in order to calm down, feel safe, being next to the mother. Don't deprive your child of this opportunity. In this way, he seeks contact with his mother, keeps in touch with her. This explains the peaceful sleep of newborns after breastfeeding: having calmed down and having eaten, the children fall asleep sweetly, feeling completely safe.

As the baby grows older, he will learn to satisfy his need for saturation more quickly and will find other ways to establish contact with his mother. This means that the feeding time will be significantly reduced. But in the first months, be sure to give the newborn the opportunity to be at the breast for as long as he wants.

See how much to breastfeed by time:

No. 5: Alternate application

The correctness of breastfeeding largely consists of alternately applying the baby to the breast. During one feeding, the mother should offer the baby only one breast, during the next feeding - the other. This is due not only to the gradual accumulation of milk in the mammary glands, but also to its composition.

So, for several minutes of suckling, the baby absorbs early milk, which satisfies his need for fluid. This is liquid milk, which contains water, carbohydrates, minerals. Only after 3-6 minutes does late milk begin to stand out. It is thicker, rich in healthy fats and nutrients. If a woman changes her breast during one feeding, the child may not receive late milk, which is valuable in its composition. As a result, the newborn may remain hungry and receive less necessary trace elements.

In addition, alternate application is also useful for the mother: excess milk will not linger in her breast, and the mammary glands quickly adapt to the established regimen.

When the baby grows up (5-6 months), he may not have enough milk from one breast. Only in this case, you can supplement it with a second breast.

#6: Feed at night

At night, it is also necessary to feed the newborn on demand. This will provide peace of mind for both the child and the parents. Night feedings help maintain lactation and produce enough milk. At first, the baby may need 2-3 applications at night.

For the convenience of feeding a child at night, mothers often resort to co-sleeping. This allows you to feel the baby, quickly respond to his needs, offer him a breast without getting out of bed.

But if the mother decides to sleep with the baby, she should be especially careful and careful not to crush him during sleep. You also need to wake up for night feeding, and not feed the baby "through sleep."

Young parents consider the best option when the baby's crib is moved close to their bed, and one side of it is open. This allows the baby to occupy a separate place, but be in close proximity to the parents. And the mother can at any time move the newborn to her and feed him.

See Lactation Consultant, talks about night feedings:

Thus, to properly organize breastfeeding is a process that does not require certain efforts and special skills. If a woman encounters any difficulties, she should consult with specialists. Do not forget that breastfeeding takes time. But loving mothers will easily endure all the troubles associated with the period of breastfeeding, because the benefits of breast milk for a newborn are priceless. No expensive formula contains as many nutrients as breast milk. Only breast milk acts as a natural defense of the newborn against bacteria and contributes to the formation of immunity.

In addition, breastfeeding is not only a natural and necessary process, but also an important moment in establishing emotional contact between mother and child.

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