How to breastfeed properly?
Breastfeeding correctly takes a little practice. Especially during the first days after birth, it often doesn’t go smoothly. This is perfectly normal, because hardly anything we do for the first time succeeds immediately.
When it comes to breastfeeding, many women make the painful experience that this also requires a bit of practice and good guidance. However, because of irritated, sore, bloody nipples during breastfeeding, associated pain or painful mastitis, many end breastfeeding prematurely.
In addition, first-time mothers in particular often have many questions about breastfeeding: How long should you breastfeed per breast? What should be done if the breast is too hard to breastfeed? Breastfeeding does not work, what now? Should you wake a newborn for breastfeeding?
For advice and answers to these and many other questions, midwives, lactation consultations and breastfeeding consultations in gynecologists’ offices are the best places to go. Here you will also find help with the typical “side effects” such as sore, aching nipples that breastfeeding can trigger in mothers, especially in the beginning.
Breastfeeding: The first time
After birth, the baby lies on your belly with its head close to the nipple. Most newborns then reflexively find their way to the target on their own. If not, the mother has to help a little.
Breastfeeding positions
Before the baby is allowed to breastfeed, the mother should have found a good breastfeeding position in which she can remain relaxed. This can be, for example, the side position or the cradle position.
You can find explanations of the most popular breastfeeding positions and which posture is best suited for which situation in the article Breastfeeding positions.
Breastfeeding: The right way to latch on
You can breastfeed your baby sitting or lying down. An incorrect “docking” at the nipple quickly leads to painful complications during breastfeeding. Proper latch-on can prevent this – and also prevent back problems (bring the baby to the breast, not the breast to the baby!).
Here are important tips on how to properly latch on your newborn to breastfeed:
- The whole areola must be in the mouth: the baby surrounds the nipple, not just sucks on it.
- Switch breasts when breastfeeding. It is best to start with the fuller side.
- Breast massage: The baby massages the breast with its chin so that the milk flows more easily. In case of hardening, breastfeeding positions in which the chin works on this area are helpful.
- Mother and baby should not be separated in the hospital (rooming-in).
Breastfeeding cap
Some doctors and midwives recommend placing a nursing cap on the nipples before mothers put their baby to breastfeed. However, whether this is really useful is controversial.
Stimulate milk production
Sometimes milk production is slow to start. Some women then worry that they are not producing enough breast milk for their baby.
To find out which signs indicate that milk production is too low and whether there are ways and means to boost production, read our article on stimulating milk production.
How long should you breastfeed?
Weeks, months, years: mothers breastfeed their children for different lengths of time. But what do experts say on the subject: How long should women ideally breastfeed their baby?
You can find the answer to this question in the article “How long should you breastfeed?
Breastfeeding
When the time comes to stop breastfeeding varies from individual to individual. Some mothers want more independence or want to return to work. Some children no longer want the liquid food and breastfeed on their own. Sometimes health problems also make it necessary to stop breastfeeding.
It is important to remember that stopping breastfeeding does not happen overnight. You can find out how long it takes to stop breastfeeding and what you should bear in mind in the article on stopping breastfeeding.
Pumping milk
Pumping and breastfeeding is also possible. For example, before an appointment away from home, you can express some milk after a breastfeeding meal and store it in the refrigerator for feeding later. This gives you the flexibility to combine breastfeeding and pumping.
You can find out how to pump correctly and what you absolutely have to pay attention to when it comes to hygiene in the article Pumping milk.
Breastfeeding: How often should you breastfeed your baby?
How often and for how long a baby drinks in the first few days after birth plays a major role in milk production in the mother’s breast. To ensure that this starts up sensibly, breastfeeding breaks should never exceed four hours in the first week. At best, you should breastfeed your baby about every one to three hours.
In the first few weeks, your baby will come to the breast for breastfeeding at least eight times in 24 hours. How often breastfeeding is necessary in the following months also always depends on the baby’s development and daily condition.
Basically, experts recommend breastfeeding as needed – that is, as often and as long as the baby wants and needs it. But you don’t need to worry about too much: You can’t breastfeed too much – the baby will get what it needs.
When to intervene
Sometimes, however, you may or must intervene in the infant’s drinking rhythm. Some babies are tired after birth and sleep a lot. If, in addition, they drink little and gain weight only slowly, they may be gently awakened to drink.
If a newborn is jaundiced (hyperbilirubinemia, jaundice), a baby should be nursed every few hours without crying first.
How often you should breastfeed your newborn may also depend on you: If you suffer from milk engorgement or mastitis, the discomfort will subside more easily with regular breastfeeding and shorter breaks between feedings.
Breastfeeding: Advantages and disadvantages
You are asking yourself the question: breastfeeding, yes or no? The answer is basically a resounding yes. This is because breastfeeding is the form of nutrition given by nature and is optimally adapted to the baby’s physical development.
If you and your child are healthy, you should therefore try to breastfeed fully for the first six months. Partial breastfeeding, i.e. a mixture of breastfeeding and the administration of purchased infant formula, is also better than not breastfeeding at all, according to experts. Whether you breastfeed directly or pump the milk and give it as a bottle does not make much difference.
Breastfeeding: Advantages
Breast milk is perfectly adapted to the needs of the newborn. It contains everything the baby needs for growth and healthy development. Especially premature babies as well as sick newborns benefit from breast milk.
Advantages of breastfeeding are:
- Protection against illness: fewer middle ear infections, diarrhea and sudden infant death syndrome in breastfed children; less frequent obesity later in life
- In the mother: accelerated involution of the uterus, faster elimination of stored water, lower risk of breast cancer and ovarian cancer
- Breastfeeding bonds: Skin contact and hormones promote emotional bonding between mother and child.
- Breastfeeding makes you happy: mood-boosting hormones ensure relaxation.
- Breastfeeding saves time, money and the environment: Breast milk is available at all times, at the right temperature and hygienically “packaged”.
- Breastfeeding promotes smart minds: There is evidence of a higher average intelligence quotient (IQ) of breastfed children.
Breast milk: Ingredients
Vitamins, proteins, fats, minerals, antibodies and more: breast milk contains numerous important ingredients for babies – in the right quantity and composition.
You can read everything you need to know about the precious ingredients of breast milk and how it is produced in the article Breast milk.
Breastfeeding: Disadvantages
Lactation
Lactation in the first few days after giving birth is already unpleasant for most women.
You can find out exactly what happens during lactation and what you can do about the pain associated with it in the article Lactation.
Breastfeeding problems
Breastfeeding can cause problems, especially at the beginning. For example, the baby cries while breastfeeding. It is possible that the baby is too distracted by external stimuli and overstimulated. In this case, rest, lots of skin contact and a reclined breastfeeding position can help.
Or perhaps the baby has air in his belly – in which case a burp after breastfeeding or in between can help.
The baby falls asleep while breastfeeding before it is full? As long as the baby produces at least four full diapers a day and gains weight normally, this is usually not a problem.
The baby drinks too little or too seldom? Then it may be advisable to gently wake the baby to nurse. Regular skin contact (for example, with the help of a bondage cloth) encourages the baby to suckle and helps the mother to notice the baby’s breastfeeding signs early on. For more tips and advice, contact your midwife or lactation consultant.
The baby bites or cries while breastfeeding? The baby spits up or chokes while breastfeeding? Do you have pain while breastfeeding? The midwife or the experts at the breastfeeding consultation can help you with these and many other hurdles. Don’t hesitate to take advantage of this help to make breastfeeding a wonderful experience for you and your baby right from the start.
Everything you need to know about the right way to deal with milk retention, sore nipples, pain in the breast during breastfeeding or mastitis can be found in the article Breastfeeding Problems.
Other possible disadvantages
Breastfeeding not only puts a strain on the breasts and requires stamina. Breastfeeding women also have to deal with other disadvantages and problems:
- Physical dependence: Breastfeeding can make it difficult for mothers to return to work and everyday life.
- abstinence from stimulants such as alcohol and nicotine
- @ personal pressure to be solely responsible for feeding the child
- Sexuality: Touching the breast area can be painful for breastfeeding women. Some men are also irritated by the intimacy between mother and child during breastfeeding.
- Lack of acceptance: Sometimes breastfeeding meets with little acceptance from the partner and the social environment.
