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The Essential Guide To Breastfeeding
Learn about the benefits of breastfeeding for both mum and baby, tips for getting started, and support options to help with common breastfeeding challenges.
Breastfeeding is one of the most natural and beneficial things you can do for your baby. The NHS recommends exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months of life. After that, giving your baby breast milk alongside solid foods for as long as you and your baby want will help them grow and develop healthily. (The WHO recommend up to 2 years of age).
Although breastfeeding may be natural, it's not always easy. Whether you're a first-time mum or an experienced one, being prepared, and having a good understanding of things that can help get you off to a good start are so important. That's why we've put together this essential guide to help you through your breastfeeding journey. From common mistakes to solutions, helpful techniques and support, read on to discover everything you need to know about breastfeeding for a comfortable and successful experience.
Benefits of breastfeeding
You may have already heard, breastfeeding has countless benefits for both you and your baby. If you’re still considering how you want to feed your baby, check out these great reasons to give breastfeeding a try. Below is a list of benefits for both you and your baby.
Benefits for baby:
- It provides them with antibodies that help protect them from infection.
- Breast milk is packed with everything your baby needs to thrive, including antibodies to boost their immature immune system, hormones to aid their development and proteins, fats, vitamins and minerals to help them grow.
- It can lower the risk of obesity and diabetes
- Reduced risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS)
- Reduced risk of heart disease in adulthood
- Less likely to become unwell with diarrhoea and vomiting
- Breastmilk is responsive – it changes to meet the needs of your baby in that moment. For example, on a hot day, it will be more watery to keep your little one hydrated, while at night it includes more of the amino acid tryptophan, which helps your baby produce melatonin, a hormone which helps them feel sleepy.
Benefits for you:
- It helps the uterus shrink back quicker to pre pregnancy size
- Breastfeeding can lower the risk of certain female cancers such as breast and ovarian cancer later in life
- Cheap and convenient - One of the major benefits of breastfeeding is that you can feed your baby wherever and whenever you need to and it won’t cost you a penny.
- Lowers your risk of developing osteoporosis and cardiovascular disease.
Breastfeeding also helps promote bonding between mother and baby. When you breastfeed, your body produces lots of the love hormone oxytocin. This will lift your mood and help you feel calmer, happier and less stressed and will also help you bond with your newborn. Feeding your baby encourages you to spend time holding them, with plenty of skin-to-skin contact, which is really important for your little one’s social development, though of course this special time can also be achieved with bottle feeding.
You may also get a break from your period if you are exclusively breastfeeding. How long it will take to get your first period after giving birth will vary from woman to woman but for many new mums, they will go for several months or longer before their cycle starts again. This can be a good incentive if you usually suffer from painful periods. Some women find they don’t get a period until they stop breastfeeding, while others will start menstruating again once their baby starts going a bit longer in between feeds.
However, don’t be tempted to rely on breastfeeding as a contraceptive as you may well have started ovulating again without realising and it could result in an unexpected pregnancy.
Although breastfeeding is extremely beneficial for both you and your baby, it isn’t always easy.
Preparing for breastfeeding
Start preparing for breastfeeding during pregnancy
To get of to a good start with breastfeeding, you’ll have to start with yourself during pregnancy. Maintain a balanced diet and stay well-hydrated throughout the day to develop good benefits before your baby arrives. When breastfeeding, aim to drink about three litres of water daily. While this may seem like a lot, you might find yourself quite thirsty during this time! If you don’t have a particularly good diet, you might want to consider a pregnancy vitamin, and vitamin D is recommended throughout pregnancy.
Baby’s first milk: Colostrum
Colostrum is the first milk that starts to develop in the breasts sometime during the second trimester. It is thick in consistency and low in volume. You may or may not notice colostrum leaking during pregnancy. If you don’t, it’s totally normal. Colostrum is so low in volume that you’re unlikely to see any milk dripping. If you do notice anything, it’s more likely to be in the form of a yellow stain in your bra or a yellow crust on the end of your nipple.
Colostrum is the first milk that babies need, packed with nutrients to sustain them in the first few days of life. Around days 3-6, colostrum changes into a thinner, whiter milk called ‘full milk’.
If you are diabetic or have any factors which might limit your ability to breastfeed immediately from birth, consider colostrum harvesting. This involves collecting small droplets of colostrum in a sterile syringe and storing it in the freezer. It is then taking to the hospital when you give birth and fed to the baby if needed. It can be helpful for babies born to diabetic mothers that are having difficulty regulating blood sugars, or premature babies that are unable to latch to the breast.
Breastfeeding essentials
If you are planning on breastfeeding, you don’t necessarily need to buy a lot of items, however a good nipple cream and nipple pads may be useful. If you are planning on leaving your baby at some point to return to work or are away from your baby for any other reason, you might want to consider getting a breast pump. It may also be useful if you know that you will be having your baby prematurely. Premature babies benefit particularly from breastmilk as their guts are more prone to infection.
Do make sure you have access to the contact details for local infant feeding specialists and support groups so that you have them on hand if any problems arise during your feeding journey. Joining a breastfeeding class or course is always a great way to enhance your knowledge in preparation for feeding.
Breastfeeding positions
Breastfeeding can feel a bit awkward at first as you settle in to finding a position that suits you. Most people will begin by holding the baby in a cradle or cross cradle position in front of them. Women who have large breasts may find that an underarm position such as the ‘rugby hold’ works well for them. After a caesarean, side lying is generally a comfortable position for women. Your midwife will help you with positioning after the birth.
Getting your baby to latch
Aside from how you hold the baby, your baby getting a good latch onto the areola and nipple, is key. Many new mothers worry about whether or not they are doing it right and whether their baby is getting enough milk.
In order to ensure a successful and positive breastfeeding experience for both you and your baby, it is important to understand how the latch works. The latch is the connection between your baby's mouth and your breast. A good latch is key to preventing pain while breastfeeding, as well as ensuring that your baby gets enough milk.
To achieve a good latch, your baby should take as much of the areola (the darker area of skin around the nipple) into their mouth as possible, avoiding letting your baby suck on your nipple.
Once you have achieved a good latch, you will know it! There should be minimal pain and your baby should be able to stay on the breast without slipping off. If you are experiencing pain or your baby keeps slipping off, try repositioning them or using a different hold.
Once your baby is latched on, ensure that they have a good seal by checking that their lips are flanged outwards. You should also be able to hear them suckling rhythmically.
Here are some tips and tricks for getting the perfect latch:
- Start by positioning your baby's head close to your breast, with their chin touching your breast and their nose to your nipple.
- Ensure you and your baby are comfortable and in a position you're able to sustain. Feel free to kick out any visitors if you need to.
- Once their mouth is open wide, aim to get as much of your nipple and areola into their mouth as possible. You may need to hold them close to support them as they take a mouthful! You should hear them start to suckle at this point.
- If you experience any persistent pain or discomfort ensure you re-assess and re-latch. Do this as many time as you need to. It's important!
- To break the latch, simply insert your (clean) finger into the corner of your baby's mouth and they will release automatically.
The midwife who helps you when you give birth will assist you in getting a good latch. Don’t worry if it works well for the first feed and then not so well after that, it’s common to have bumps a long the way. Your midwife or maternity support worker on the ward will help you.
Breastfeeding can be a bit of a learning curve for both of you, but with a little patience and practice, you'll get the hang of it in no time.
Common issues with breastfeeding
If you experience any issues feeding your baby, seek support from your midwife, health visitor or a breastfeeding support worker. There are also breastfeeding helplines you can call for advice.
There are a few common issues that can arise when breastfeeding, but fortunately, there are also solutions for each one. You may need to get specialist help as this list isn't exhaustive and nothing beats in-person support. Here are some of the most common breastfeeding problems and how to fix them:
Combination feeding
Although breastfeeding provides optimal nutrition for your baby, there are times when it’s not possible or practical. If you can’t breastfeed, or you need to supplement your breastmilk with formula, you’re not a bad mother. You’re doing what’s best for you and your family, and that’s all that matters.
There are two ways to combine breastfeeding and formula feeding: combination feeding and pumping & bottle feeding.
Combination feeding: With combination feeding, you breastfeed your baby some of the time and supplement with formula at other times. This is a good option if you don’t want to commit to exclusively breastfeeding or pumping and bottle feeding.
Pumping and bottle feeding: With this method, you pump breastmilk and feed it to your baby from a bottle. This is a good option if you want to continue breastfeeding but need to be away from your baby or supplement with formula occasionally.
You can also visit the NHS’s Start4Life website, or contact one of the breastfeeding helplines for support with feeding:
National Childbirth Trust (NCT)
0300 330 0700
http://www.nct.org.uk/parenting/feeding
National Breastfeeding Helpline
08442 090 920 or 0300 100 0212
Webchat available at http://www.nationalbreastfeedinghelpline.org.uk/
La Leche
Breastfeeding Network
0300 100 0210
