Infant Feeding
Contents
Breastfeeding Basics
If you find you need more advice and support, you always can seek the expertise of a lactation specialist. Your health care professional, or the nurses where you delivered your baby, can help you locate a specialist in your area.
Colostrum: your first milk
Once your baby is born, for three to four days afterwards, your breasts produce colostrum. It’s thicker than typical breast milk, but packed with nutrients your newborn needs. The flow of colostrum is slow, making it easier for your newborn to practice sucking, swallowing and breathing at the same time.
By day five, your baby probably will have mastered the rhythm of feeding, and your milk supply will increase to match their increasing appetite.
How do you know when your baby is hungry?
Crying can be a telltale sign of hunger, but there are others. When your baby makes sucking movements or puts their fingers to his/her mouth—even if sleeping—your baby may be telling you they’re ready to eat. It’s best to feed your baby when he/she is fully awake. You can help wake your infant by playing, changing their diaper, or talking to them before they eat.
Latching on (or positioning baby on your breast)
Your newborn may latch on as soon as you hold him/her to your breast. If not, don’t be disappointed. To latch on correctly, position your baby’s mouth over the pockets of milk located 1 to 1 1/2 inches behind the nipple. This way, they’ll get the most milk and you’ll be less likely to have sore nipples.
The four steps to latching on to a breast:
- Positioning baby’s face and body so they’re facing you, with his/her head at the level of your breast.
- Gently lifting and supporting your breast with your fingers and placing your thumb on top of your breast, away from the areola (the dark area around your nipple).
- Gently stroking baby’s lower lip with your nipple until they open his/her mouth very wide.
- Quickly pulling your baby onto your breast so his/her nose, cheeks, and chin are all slightly touching your breast. If your baby’s nostrils are blocked, pull his/her bottom upward and closer to you, so their head will move back slightly.
If you can imagine being able to draw a straight line from his/her ear to their shoulder to his/her hip, your baby will be latched on correctly. Since your baby sucks more efficiently on the first breast he/she uses, alternate the side they start nursing on from feeding to feeding.
If your baby doesn’t open their mouth wide enough, gently stroke his/her bottom lip with your nipple in a downward motion. Repeat this stroking until they open their mouth wide. Then quickly pull your baby onto your breast so his/her nose, cheeks, and chin all are touching the breast. He/she then should begin to suck.
To keep a steady milk supply in each breast, it’s important to switch breasts during feedings. Begin feeding on the breast that was not used last. After 10 to 15 minutes, try burping your baby, and then offer the second breast. If he/she doesn't seem interested in the second breast, offer that breast first at their next feeding.
When you need to remove your baby from your breast, it is important to first break the suction. Gently slip one of your fingers into the corner of their mouth before removing him/her from your breast.
Feeding intervals
During the daytime, if three hours have passed since their last feeding, or if your breasts are full, you may want to wake your baby to feed. Talking, rubbing, patting, unwrapping, or undressing him/her will help. It may take five to 10 minutes to wake your infant completely, but it usually will result in a better feeding.
If your baby shows signs of hunger—even if he/she just ate an hour ago—it’s OK to feed them again. Sometimes infants "cluster feed" before taking a nap. It doesn’t mean your milk supply is low. Instead, this is normal breastfeeding behaviour.
On the other hand, if one or both breasts become engorged between feedings, using a breast pump or hand expressing will help to relieve them.
