Best Practices in Breastfeeding

Breastfeeding, also known as nursing, has many benefits for both baby and mom. Breastmilk is the ideal nutrition for babies and contains all the nutrients and vitamins they need to grow and thrive. 

Babies all require different amounts of breastmilk, and all moms make different amounts. In the first few days, mom will make an ideal “first milk” called colostrum. There isn’t a lot of it but, rest assured, it is enough to meet your baby’s nutritional needs. As your baby grows and needs more milk your body will respond by making more. “If you feel your supply is going down, they way to increase supply is by providing more stimulation to your breast. This can be done through increased breastfeeding sessions or using a breast pump,” says Lisa Vekich.  

In the first few days your baby’s belly is tiny. He or she may want to eat every 1 to 3 hours, about 8 to 12 times within a 24-hour period. After the first couple of weeks your baby will gradually be able to drink more at each feeding and eat every 2 to 4 hours. Babies’ feeding patterns are all different and will change as they grow. Continue to follow your baby’s cues and breastfeed when you notice signs of hunger. 

Signs that your baby is receiving enough milk include: 

• Seeming content for 1-3 hours between feedings 
• Not losing more than 7% of their birth weight in the first few days after birth 
• Having at least six wet diapers a day by the time they are 7-10 days old

If you have concerns about how much your baby is eating, talk to your doctor, pediatrician or lactation consultant. 

Some early signs of hunger in a baby include: 

• Cooing
• Putting hands to their mouth 
• Licking lips or sticking out their tongue
• Rooting (moving mouth or head as if looking for your breast)
• Opening their mouth 

Crying is the most obvious hunger cue but also the babies last signal that they are hungry. “If we wait until baby cries to feed them they can become fussy and frantic at the breast making it difficult to get a good latch,” says Lisa Vekich. “This is why nighttime feedings can sometimes be a challenge, because we’ve missed those early feeding cues.” 

“There are a lot of old wives’ tales about avoiding certain foods and beverages while breastfeeding,” says Lisa. “However, there have been studies that show if moms eat a variety of food while breastfeeding, they have a toddler who is a less picky eater.” 

Most importantly breastfeeding moms should eat a well-balanced diet including protein, vegetables, fruits, whole grains and plenty of water. Caffeine and alcohol should be consumed in moderation. The one thing I recommend avoiding are energy drinks. There haven’t been a lot of studies about how long it takes for that to transfer into the breastmilk. 

“I visit all the patients in the hospital after the baby is born. During the inpatient visit I check the latch of the baby, answer any questions mom may have and make sure you are off to a great start. When checking a latch, I make sure the baby is in the correct position, baby is moving its jaw in the correct way, that mom is not having any pain or discomfort during feeding and that the baby is content and satisfied after the breastfeeding session” says Lisa. 

Some common complications with breastfeeding can be engorgement, plugged ducts or mastitis. If you feel you are having any complications with breast feeding, you start to develop a fever or flu like symptoms you should come into the clinic.