After Childbirth

The following are some of the advantages of breastfeeding:
• The ingredients in breast milk are tailored to the rate of growth and development of your baby. Throughout breastfeeding, the milk changes according to what your baby needs.
• Breast milk is more easily digested because the curds it forms are smaller and softer than those of untreated cow’s milk. It also contains many enzymes – these are substances which help the body digest food. They make it easier for the baby to absorb nutrients. Breast milk, particularly colostrums (the early form of breast milk) has special properties which help protect the baby from problems like diarrhoea and respiratory infections.
• Allergy to breast milk is rare.
• You do not have to worry about breast milk being too strong or too weak—it is always just right.
• You have to hold your baby to you to breastfeed. This close contact can make it easier for both of you to develop a special attachment to each other.
• Because no preparation is needed to sterilise bottle feeding equipment, breastfeeding is more convenient, especially for night feeds or when travelling. It is cheaper too.
• It helps you get back into shape faster. Besides helping the uterus to return to its normal size after birth (the baby’s sucking means the uterus contract), it also uses up the fat your body stored during pregnancy.

After your baby is born, a special hormone causes your breasts to make milk.

When your baby sucks at the breast, another hormone causes the milk to be squeezed into the ducts and reservoirs which lie just under the darker skin around your nipple. This process is called the “let down”.

Your breast continues producing milk as your baby continues to suck regularly. When the baby sucks, nerves in the nipple pass a “message” on to the pituitary gland. This message alerts the gland to make more of the hormone which is responsible for milk production. The more often your breasts are emptied, the more milk they produce.

In the first few days, it is usually best to let the baby feed as often and as long as he or she wants. If this is your first baby or if you had problems with previous babies, ask the hospital lactation consultant or healthcare professional to make sure the baby is attaching properly at the breast. If the baby is not properly attached, it can make your nipples sore.

Remember to alternate the breast you start with at each feed—in other words, if you began the last feed with the left breast, begin the next one with the right. This makes sure both breasts get the stimulation and emptying they need to keep up the milk supply.

The number of feeds each day can vary. At this time, the baby is usually hungry every time he/she cries, so accept that the need for feeding is as urgent as it sounds. It will be a few months yet before your baby can wait even a little while for food without getting upset.

A baby is getting sufficient breast milk if he/she:
• Gains weight satisfactorily;
• Is wet when you change the nappy;
• Has bright eyes and good skin tone;
• Settles between feeds.

Sometimes your baby may fuss at the beginning of a feed because your “let down” is slow. The “let down” can be affected by pain, feeling tired or anxious or by an emotional upset. Try relaxing for a short time before feeds. Make sure you are in a comfortable position when you are feeding, and try not to rush things.

Making yourself comfortable is the most important factor in successful breastfeeding. So long as you feel comfortable, you can feed your baby sitting up, lying down or on your side.

Clean your nipples and breasts with warm water before each feed. Also wash your hands with soap and water. Let your child nuzzle your breast. Never force his or her head to your breast for he or she knows instinctively how to suck. Make sure your baby is able to breathe by seeing that his or her nose is not covered by your breast.

The correct method of feeding is to make sure that part of your areola (the dark area around your nipple) is inside your baby’s mouth. When your baby squeezes the areola with his or her gums, milk is squirted into his or her waiting mouth. Feed your baby on each breast for 5 to 10 minutes. Do not pull your child off for it will only annoy and hurt him or her. Rather, detach your baby by sliding a finger between your nipple and the corner of his or her mouth. Gently nudge out your nipple.

Give your baby a short break between changing breasts. Talk to him and cuddle him. Remember, relaxation and the stimulation of breasts creates more milk for your infant.

Some women cannot breastfeed (e.g. they are unwell or have had plastic surgery on their breasts) or they prefer not to breastfeed.

Bottle-fed babies grow and develop just as well as breast-fed babies, and mothers who bottle-feed can be just as loving and effective as breastfeeding mothers.

Babies need to feel the warmth of your body, so hold your baby close to you each time you give a bottle. Remember:
• Boil or sterilise the baby’s bottles and teats, and boil the water used for milk mixture.
• Use a commercial infant formula. These formulas are designed specifically for babies for different ages, and some are not suitable for babies in the first six months. Read the label carefully before making up the feed and follow the manufacturers instructions.
• Never leave the baby alone and do not prop up the bottle while feeding. A baby could choke on the milk or the milk might trickle into the baby’s ear and cause an ear infection.
• Young babies normally take about 60ml to 120ml at each feed. They usually feed about every three or four hours – about five to six bottles every 24 hours. As your baby gets older, gradually more and more milk will be taken until he or she is drinking about 180ml to 250ml at each feed, usually about three to four bottles every 24 hours. Your baby does not have to finish all the milk at each feed – babies need different amounts at different times.
• When your baby has finished feeding, usually about 15 to 30 minutes, throw away any leftover milk, then rinse the teat and bottle with cold water. Do this immediately because germs can grow very fast in leftover milk.