Tips on breast feeding

Building milk supply:

Get a good dual pump. The 1st month is very very important. It is the best time to build up your supply. After the 1st month, it'll take 1 or 2 months' time to increase supply and will be tougher. Having a pump in hand will help a lot. During the 1st month we will experience lots of engorgements. This is the chance for us to latch and pump (around 2 hours apart) to increase supply. Feed on demand around the clock (after 2nd week) is important and making sure baby takes the fore and hind milk and empty each breast. In the evening, we may need to even do it hourly as supply will be lower at this time compared to morning. Ways of encouraging supply during the first month includes:

1) During the 1st week & 2nd week: Breastfeed baby eight times, and optimally ten to twelve times or more during a twenty-four hour period. You may need to wake baby for feeds. Demand feeding begins after the baby is a couple of weeks old, has regained his birth-weight, and your milk supply is well established. A healthy baby who is older than two weeks is not going to sleep through feedings –he will most definitely let you know when he is hungry! No pumping is needed during the 1st week unless you need to remove excess milk from breast. Please make sure baby takes the fore and hind milk and empty each breast. It may take a sleepy baby 20 to 30 minutes to reach the hind milk. Try waking baby up if baby sleeps during feeds or sleeping too long.

How to wake a baby:
http://www.ehow.com/video_4441707_keeping-sleepy-babies-awake-breastfeeding.html
http://www.breastfeeding-basics.com/html/waking_a_sleepy_baby.shtml

Having good urine and stool output and gaining weight is important to know if baby is feeding well.

How to know if baby is getting enough milk? - after the 3rd or 4th day

- baby would have poo 4-5 times in 24 hours.
- wet cloth nappy 6-7 times in 24 hours (minimum)
- Should gain 170g (6 ounces) per week or 28g (1ounce) a day.
- Minimum 113 - 142g (4-5 ounces) per week
- Breastfeed 8-12 times in 24 hours. (during the 1st month) - this is a guide for stimulating supply.
- Cluster feeding can happen in the evening.

More info: http://www.kellymom.com/bf/normal/newborn-nursing.html

2) While latching on one side, pump on the other side at the same time. A very effective and easy method to emptying the breast and stimulate more milk. Is a way of telling the brain you have twins to feed. The brain will adjust the supply accordingly. If baby is not satisfied with just one side, feed the expressed milk.

3) It's important to empty the breast. If baby do not empty the breast, you'll have to pump it out. Use gentle but firm compression. Be careful not to use hard compression as hurting yourself is the last thing you want.

4) When baby finished sucking (either 1 or 2 sides), pump any excess milk (bear in mind that the hind milk will be slower and may come in droplets form and not spraying form - pump and squeeze till no more drips). If there is another let down (a tingling sensation), milk will come out as fountain again :)

5) When pumping, it's better to compress or massage the breast to yield more milk and very effective for emptying the breast.

6) Be positive and relax. Keep telling yourself milk is coming and is enough. Negative thoughts and worries will reduce milk supply.

7) Drinking hot drinks or soup before pumping can help stimulate milk. Drink lots of warm water.

8) Hot towel placed on breast will help relieve engourgement and stimulate milk.

9) Do not drag feedings else u are telling the brain u don't need so much milk. This is how mummies who decided to stop breastfeeding do. They will drag the feeding time hourly until milk supply diminished.

10) Always empty your breast fully at each feed or pump. It's very important because you are telling the brain u really need the milk till the very last drop. When I latch my baby, I do not need to squeeze my breasts as baby's suction is the best in stimulating milk. It is the most relaxing method for me in breastfeeding. When the breast is empty, you will feel your breast being very light and feeling saggy.

11) When u are in the hospital, learn all the 3 techniques of latching on. Cradle hold, football hold and lying down position. All these 3 positions will come in handy when we have engourgements. Aim baby's chin towards the lump. This way it will clear the blockage.

12) After pumping or latching, no need to clean the nipples till next feed. Instead, squeeze a little breast milk (not too much, just apply thin layer) and apply it on the nipple. Dab to dry and air dry to avoid nipple sourness or problems. Breast milk heals wounds on the nipple if leave to dry.

13) During the 1st month, it’s normal that baby need to latch on 1-2 hours apart. They will be times where baby will sleep 2-3 or even 4 hours in a stretch. If baby sleeping this long, we may have to pump out the milk if breast feels full.

14) When baby sleeps, you sleep. Use the lying down position as much as you can when nursing. There were a lot of times where we just fell asleep. It's a wonderful feeling.

15) How do u know if baby is drinking or just treating the nipple like a pacifier?

- if u can see baby gulping in rhythm, baby is drinking. If baby is not drinking, it’s just light or shallow suckling. If baby fell asleep half way, tickle the ear or lower lip or the top of the feet. If still sleeping, try changing baby’s diaper to stimulate baby again.

16) If u experience any problems in nursing, call the lactation consultant for advice. There was one time I had a very painful ulcer on the nipple. The lactation consultant adviced me to break the ulcer with a sterilized needle. Believe it or not, it works.

17) latching baby correctly is very important: http://www.ameda.com/community/videos.aspx



Here are some additional tips:

1) Baby’s early hungry signs: baby smacking lips or putting or rubbing her hands on her mouth. Don’t feed only when baby cries, may result in getting sore nipples if latch on a crying baby. Watch out for this early signs to achieve more relaxing latching.

2) Skin to skin contact can calm a baby.