By: Mandie C Medford, BA, HBCE, LE<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Your breast milk will\nbe one of the most precious gifts that you give to your baby. The time\nyou spend nursing your little one will create a strong bond between you and\nyour child that will last a lifetime and will help your baby to be healthier,\nhappier and better able to form relationships and bonds with others later in\nlife. <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n The benefits of breastfeeding are endless.<\/strong> \nChildren who are breastfed have an average of 11 points higher IQ levels, lower\ncholesterol in adulthood and fewer cavities and allergies. These children are\nless likely to develop obesity, cancer, asthma, intestinal diseases, diabetes,\nheart disease, MS, arthritis and countless other diseases. Mothers who\nnurse have a lower risk of pre-menopausal breast cancer, cervical cancer and\nosteoporosis; they have a lower risk of hemorrhage during their postpartum\nperiod, and burn 500 calories per day breastfeeding alone!<\/p>\n\n\n\n ENJOY this time and enjoy your baby.<\/strong> \nNurture and respect yourself rather than being critical of yourself as a\nparent. You brought human life into the world and you are amazing! Here\nare some tips and valuable information about breastfeeding that will help you\nto get a successful start and promote long term breastfeeding. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Your milk:<\/strong> Breast milk is easily digested and\nis made especially by your body to meet the specific needs of your baby. \nYou will have colostrum for the first three days of your baby\u2019s life. \nBabies receive about one teaspoon of colostrum during each feeding and it\ndoesn\u2019t take them much time to eat. Your baby\u2019s stomach is about the size\nof a marble at birth, so your colostrum fills them up well. Colostrum is\nfull of protein to maintain healthy blood sugar levels and immunity properties\nthat seal the gut lining to protect against pathogens. Around day 3\nof your baby\u2019s life, your breasts will feel \u201cfull\u201d and your transitional milk\nwill arrive. This milk is creamier and higher in volume. It also contains\nlactose, calories and vitamins. When baby is 10 days old, and their\nstomach has grown, your mature milk will arrive. It will be higher in\nfat, protein and carbohydrates. Milk is never \u201ctoo watery.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Feed baby on demand<\/strong>. Do not worry about\nschedules. Your baby will be eating about every 2 hours and this is\nnormal. Babies need to be fed 10-12 times per day, which averages out to\nbe about every 2-3 hours. Your milk is the PERFECT food for your baby;\nit metabolizes quickly and then baby is ready to eat again! It is\nperfectly fine to let baby pacify at the breast; allowing him or her to spend\ntime skin to skin with you will only serve to bring your milk in, in a timely\nmanner. Babies will lose about 5-10% of their birth weight and will\nlikely be back to birth weight by 2 weeks of age. Keep feeding through\nit, on demand.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The best way to build milk supply<\/strong> is to feed your\nbaby. Breastfeeding is the model of supply and demand. The more\nbaby demands, the more milk you will make, thus making it important to feed\nwhen your baby shows early signs of hunger.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Sleep:<\/strong> Your baby will wake up at night to\nnurse; this is normal. Your baby will likely wake about every 2 hours at\nnight and throughout the day to eat. It takes breast milk about 90-120\nminutes to metabolize, thus explaining why babies wake so often. Your\nprolactin (the hormone that makes you make milk) levels reach their peak\nbetween 1 and 6:00am and it is very important to feed during those hours to\nmaintain a healthy milk supply. Your milk is the PERFECT food for your\nbaby! Sleeping in the same room or co-sleeping with your baby is optimal\nfor a healthy and long term breastfeeding relationship. Sleep when your baby\nsleeps!<\/p>\n\n\n\n Be sure to wake baby and feed at least every 2 hours during\nthe day, until he or she is back to birth weight. The rule of thumb with\nmy own babies is that we offer the breast every 2 hours or when they ask for\nit, whatever comes first! <\/p>\n\n\n\n Spend a lot of time skin to skin with your baby.<\/strong> \nIt organizes them for nursing, encourages growth and stabilizes blood sugar\nlevels. Most importantly, it encourages bonding between mother and baby\nbecause of the oxytocin that is produced. Partners should spend time\nskin to skin with baby too! Nurse baby skin to skin, with your shirt\noff and baby just in his or her diaper.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Babies will lose about 5-10% of their birth weight<\/strong>\nand will likely be back to birth weight by 2 weeks of age. Keep feeding\nthrough it, on demand.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Wear your baby in a sling or carrier.<\/strong> \nThis promotes bonding and effective nursing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Limit visitors.<\/strong> If people want to come\nby, give them a job! Ask them to do a load of laundry or dishes for you\nor bring a meal. If you are uncomfortable nursing in front of others while you\nget the hang of it, then limit who comes over, but never ever feel like you\nshould have to leave the room or cover up when it is time to feed your baby!<\/p>\n\n\n\n Mom should consume 2500 good calories per day and a\ngallon of water.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Listen to your instincts.<\/strong> We cannot be\nperfect parents 100% of the time but when we are coming from a place of love\nand understanding we can\u2019t do it wrong!<\/p>\n\n\n\n I hope that you enjoy, and snuggle your new baby! The time\nflies faster that you can imagine and soon enough they will be strong,\nconfident children. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Mandie\nMedford, HBCE, LE<\/p>\n\n\n\n