How exactly does one prepare to breastfeed or chestfeed?  Shouldn’t it just be natural?

Do you feel ready to breastfeed? Did you know there are things you can do BEFORE baby is born that will help you be more prepared?

First, what have you heard about breastfeeding / chestfeeding?  Is it natural, healthy, convenient and free?   Sure, Public health flyers will remind you all about that.  But what about painful, exhausting, hard and stressful?  You don’t see that on any posters, but that’s what many expectant parents hear from their friends! 

Well, which is it?  Is it a calm, enjoyable bonding experience or a gauntlet of pumps, cracked nipples and babies with excess weight loss?

Honest answer?  It can be both.

It is very common to have at least a few struggles with breastfeeding, especially in the first week.

Whether it’s a painful latch, a sleepy baby, constant crying or someone telling you that baby isn’t getting enough milk.  There are lots of challenges you might encounter, because most of us didn’t grow up in a village where everyone was topless and sat around a fire feeding their babies all day.  If we had, more of us would find breastfeeding/chestfeeding natural, instinctive and easy. But for many, it’s not.  

Feeding your newborn is something you need practice, information, support, and time to get good at.  Also, there are some great tricks that can make a big difference if you know about them ahead of time, so you can know what to expect and what to try before any trouble starts!

Learning about breastfeeding BEFORE your baby is born, is actually very helpful, although there’s nothing like the real thing when it comes to actually practicing latch, and holding a real-live baby!  Knowing what is normal (like REALLY frequent feeding so baby can tell your body how much milk to make) and what it’s supposed to feel like (it’t NOT supposed to hurt!) are really good to know ahead of time.  Trying to Google “what is clusterfeeding” or “How to breastfeed a sleepy baby” after 30 hours labour is not as much fun as you might think!

Seriously, SO MANY issues that people have with breastfeeding stem from not knowing what to expect, how to prevent nipple pain, and what to do if baby is not latching, is too sleepy to feed well, or when baby is losing too much weight… learning all the ins and outs ahead of time can prevent may of these issues!

Here are some of my TOP TIPS to get you started….

1. Learn about Hand Expression 

If there is ANY reason a baby is having trouble breastfeeding in the first few days after birth, hand express your colostrum every 2-3 hours for 10-15 minutes.  You might only get a few drops but it signals your body that you’re still ‘IN’ for becoming a breastfeeder and that you would like to request a great milk supply even if baby isn’t feeding well right now.  

We can figure a lot of things out later on about a deep latch, nipple comfort, sleepy baby and excess weight loss if your body is reminded to continue making milk.

2. Spoons are made for babies too!

If your baby isn’t able to get colostrum out of your breast the ‘usual’ way because he’s tongue-tied, sleepy, it hurts you or he just won’t latch, then use a spoon!  

First, read #1 …..  Now hand express right into a spoon & give it to the baby! Spoons are easy to use, hold small amounts (which is usually all newborns need anyway….seriously!) and you can express your thick colostrum right into it so you don’t lose your 3 precious drops in the pump valve thingy!

3. Take off your shirt and hold your naked baby!

This one seems simple and obvious once you learn about how much ‘skin-to-skin holding’ can improve breastfeeding outcomes.  Most parents however, think they’re supposed to immediately put their new baby in all the cute outfits and hats they’ve had washed and waiting for this moment. I don’t blame you, that outfit IS super cute, BUT if your baby is having trouble waking up, calming down, latching, or is cold, I promise that the science here is right.  Your chest is the place to be.  Put your feet up, get comfy and hold your baby.  

4. Keep trying, and get help.
Ask for help, ask for more help, then if you still need help, find different help. (Yes, I do LIVE private virtual sessions ANYWHERE!)

5. We recommend that all our pregnant clients take this on-demand, online Breastfeeding Prep class :

“How to Breastfeed” from our Virtual Academy! 

(use code NUTMEGMOM50 any time to get 50% off!!)

This Breastfeeding Prep course will teach you

* how to sit * how to hold * how to latch * how to know if baby is getting enough milk… and what to do if they aren’t * what to expect in the first few days * how to avoid nipple pain * how to get a great milk supply * what to do with a sleepy baby * what to do if baby won’t latch

…. and how to get breastfeeding off to a great start!!

Breastfeeding takes practice.  Learning about what to expect in REAL life can make a big difference in your confidence.  The sooner you find help the better, but even if things aren’t perfect right from the start, try these things and reach out! Your breastfeeding career really can continue almost always with the right information, if you are a bit stubborn, and just a little bit lucky.

Angela Grant Buechner, BA, BScN, RN, IBCLC is a Registered Nurse • Lactation Consultant • Birth Doula • Postpartum Doula • Newborn Care Specialist • Educator in Toronto offering LIVE virtual support sessions worldwide!

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                            Will any of my pre-pregnancy work clothes ever fit the same?

                            Will making a decision about daycare/nanny/part time/full time/gradual start/home daycare be easy?

                            Do I have to stop breastfeeding if I’m going back to work?

answer to all of the above? NO. One of the most common questions I get is how to prepare for going back to work if you’re breastfeeding. If you’re lucky and live in Canada (and can live off Maternity leave for a year) then you may have a very different experience than most parents living south of us in the United States who have to return within weeks of their birth.

Although we can feel lucky that we have a whole year to be with our babies, and get a chance to establish breastfeeding in the early weeks and months, we also go through very different phases and many babies have never had a need to drink their breastmilk in any other way then straight from the tap.

Many people think that it’s expected that they will just stop at a year because they’re going back to work (and we’ll talk about how to approach that if it’s your choice) but MANY parents decide to continue breastfeeding once or twice per day or more, even if they are going back to work full time.

Breastfeeding an older baby is very different than breastfeeding a newborn. Often, many day-to-day things are intertwined with breastfeeding, including nap time, meal time, the need for magical nursing sessions to cure any problem/injury/injustice and even just chilling out and snuggling. Many moms don’t know that they can absolutely continue to breastfeed, even if they also want to make sure that baby can drink from a bottle/cup/straw so they can go to daycare, still have naps and have a way to get liquids when their usual source is at work.

1. FIGURE OUT YOUR PERFECT PLAN

What would your perfect scenario be for nursing/pumping/bottle/cup/weaning be?

There are many ways to continue breastfeeding even if you are going back to work full time. Many people breastfeed just first thing in the morning, right when they pick up baby or get home, or at bedtime. Some babies will nurse once overnight or early morning instead, and some will do any combination of these. Whatever works, what do YOU want to do?

2. DON’T PANIC!

Many breastfeeders think that they have to plan for MONTHS ahead of time for their return to work at a year, but many people need almost no drastic changes ahead of time. I usually say about 4-6 weeks is enough time for most plans, even if you want to drastically reduce the number of nursing sessions that you do per day.

Many people just continue to nurse as usual right up until the first day of daycare/return to work, and they may just have had their baby practice with a cup/bottle ahead of time so they know that their baby can take liquids in another way. Recommendations say that a child at a year doesn’t necessarily need replacement ‘MILK’ (pumped/cow/ formula etc) as long as they are breastfeeding two or more times per day. Water and food can be enough during the day, and baby can nurse and make up for it when you’re together again….. get ready to be tackled!!

3. BE READY TO PUMP OR EXPRESS IF NEEDED.

Sometimes moms are told that if they pump they will increase their milk supply (which can be helpful if needed see blog HERE. )…. If you are stopping, reducing or skipping a feed, then your body is still expecting that you will need that feed as usual and the milk will be ready. If you skip the feed then you may become very full and uncomfortable. Pumping or hand expressing just a little bit (not to empty the breast as much as usual) can be helpful and necessary to prevent painful engorgement and even mastitis. You’d still be removing less milk than usual, so you would still technically be weaning.

If you want to maintain your milk supply, or collect and provide expressed breastmilk for baby while you’re away, then you may want to pump once or twice for 10-15 minutes, and collect as much as you can. More pumping advice HERE.

4. TEACH BABY ANOTHER WAY TO FALL ASLEEP

If you nurse your baby to sleep, it can be very helpful to give them a chance to ALSO learn another way of falling asleep. I never stopped nursing to sleep whenever I was home, at bedtime or on weekends, but I made sure that during the few weeks before my return to work, my babes were able to practice being rocked, walked in a baby carrier, back rubbed etc to sleep.

If possible, ask your daycare provider what they are able to do for nap time, and what the usual routine is. Will they be willing to provide individual care? Rocking babies etc? Then have another member of your family give it a try a few times. At around 1 year, most babies are able to figure out that when mom is here they get to breastfeed, but when dad/partner/nana/friend/caregiver is here, I get the other way.

5. KNOW THAT IT WILL GET BETTER WITH TIME….

Everyone needs time to learn a new thing, practice a new way, and get used to a big change. Just like we can feel sad or nervous, babies will still have big feelings and nursing when we are with them can be a wonderful way to re-connect. Research shows that nursing even a couple of times per day can be very helpful for reducing illness during the transition to a new daycare situation, so it can really be worth it to keep it going if possible. Your body and your baby will adjust to the new routine.

If you need more help setting up a plan or want to discuss all the options for you and your situation, feel free to reach out for a chat, or schedule a ‘Return to Work’ consult with us.  We’d love to help!

http://www.nutmegconsulting.ca

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Between my 3 children, I have nursed over the span of 10 years for almost half that time. Actually for over 59 months (you have to use months when talking about anything to do with kids right?) so just about 5 years….and I’m not done yet. There will be no more kids here, of that I will make sure, but I am still nursing my son, who is almost 20 months old (yup, that’s him with his ‘digger’ in the picture)…

I’ve thought about how my own experiences have helped me to help others breastfeed. Of course I can give them tips about comfortable positions, how to latch and making a comfortable ‘nest’ to hang out in (with all your important supplies nearby, like snacks, water, cellphone, tv remote, diapers, wipes and more snacks)…but really, I think the most important thing that I have now that can help my clients, is my memory.

It was almost 4 years between weaning my 2nd child (at 2) and the birth of my 3rd child. My memories of the first 3 months of the newborn period (also called the 4th trimester) had begun to fade. Sure I had images in my head of my snuggly baby, holding her skin-to-skin, wearing her in a baby carrier so I could make lunch for her big sister, trying to fix her latch because she had a tongue tie (again, another story)…. But really I didn’t remember the intense first few weeks with a newborn anymore. I had forgotten the reality of it, how it feels to feed again and again and again, and to hold that baby all.night.long.

I remember now.

I think that having this new, fresh experience in my head helps me to relate better to new mothers because I can say out loud what they’ve been thinking and they feel like they’re not alone. I joke about how moms cry on day 3 or 4 after the baby is born and they look at me with relief that they’re not losing their mind. I mention how we all have the ‘what have I done to my life?’ thought in the middle of the night when you would pay a million dollars just to sleep for three hours in a row. I tell them how I co-slept with my son from the first night in the hospital (just like 70% of the world) and then I tell them how to do it safely. They feel like I’m in their secret club when I mention that I have to go and nurse my son before bedtime, and they know that I’ve been where they’ve been and I made it out alive.

Being a new mom is hard. Learning as much as possible about what to REALLY expect from a newborn, especially how often they want to breastfeed, that they don’t want to sleep anywhere but ON you, and that your need for a shower or a hot meal is NOT something that your child will EVER care about. Sorry.

It’s ok. Hang in there. Let me show you how to get comfortable, and let me get you the tv remote.

I don’t know how long it will take before these memories start to fade, but I’m going to do my best this time, to keep remembering. I want to be able to help mothers know the realities of having a newborn, so they know not to expect a baby that sleeps all night (for a VERY long time), or wants to be put down…ever! They get bigger, they need you less and less, and things change, I promise. They always do.

-Angela

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Kangaroo Care, also known as skin-to-skin, helps give even the smallest of premature babies a better chance at life.

This is why:

It’s something that no expectant parent can prepare for. Most parents won’t even let themselves think it could happen …. never, no…not to them and their baby-to-be. Luckily, most will never know how it feels to have a premature baby in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU). Most mothers will never give birth to a micro preemie born at the cusp of viability. Most people will never know what it’s like to have their baby born too soon, but for many parents it will become a reality.

Premature birth is a global issue and the numbers are alarming. Worldwide, an estimated 15 million babies are born preterm every year. That is more than 1 in 10 babies. The numbers are similar in Canada where currently, 1 out of every 12 babies is born prematurely.

The good news is that treatment and care for premature infants continue to improve. Neonatal intensive care units across the country have adopted new standards of care that have resulted in better survival rates. The simple power of touch is proving to be one of the most effective methods.

THE POWER OF TOUCH

What could be more natural than a mother holding her ‪‎newborn baby skin-to-skin close to her chest? As a neonatal nurse, I have been fortunate to help facilitate this moment hundreds of times. Known as Kangaroo Care for premature infants, this powerful interaction of mother and child benefits babies in more ways than we think. Holding your baby skin-to-skin during the first moments of life is an opportunity to shape your baby’s overall health, and it is one of the most beneficial things that a mother can do for her newborn baby.

Why is touch so vitally important? Touch is one of the first senses to develop while the baby is still in the womb (between 7-8 weeks gestation). From their earliest weeks, babies depend on touch for exploring their world. There are many medical benefits too.

BENEFITS FOR BABY

Research on Kangaroo Care shows that it helps babies in the NICU regulate their heart rate, breathing and temperature, improve head circumference, growth and weight gain. It also helps stabilize baby’s organ function and self-regulation abilities, experience less pain and less crying, facilitate better sleep patterns and improves breastfeeding outcomes. Research shows that skin-to-skin time with parents is calming, which positively impacts their brain and emotional development, and it can even shorten a preterm baby’s hospital stay.

CAN I REALLY DO SKIN-TO-SKIN WITH MY TINY PREMATURE BABY?

Depending on your baby’s condition, Kangaroo Care can begin immediately after delivery or start once your baby is more stable. Even very small babies with major health issues can benefit from short sessions. Once baby is stabilized, sessions should be at least an hour (NICU policies vary). Your baby’s health care team will give advice about when your baby is ready for Kangaroo Care and will help you prepare.

HOW WILL SKIN-TO-SKIN CONTACT HELP ME WITH BREASTFEEDING?

Holding your baby skin-to-skin can help trigger the release of the hormones that can help to increase your breastmilk supply. During skin-to-skin contact your baby is close to his food. He can see and smell your skin and nipple/areola and this encourages him when it’s time to start breastfeeding.

PRACTICING SAFE SKIN-TO-SKIN

Here are a few tips I use to help parents safely practice skin-to-skin holding while in the NICU and after they go home. These can also be adapted for a full term baby.

• Find a comfortable place to sit. Kangaroo Care requires a comfortable chair with several pillows for support to help position the baby. Mom should be in a reclined and relaxed position. Being inclined helps to ensure that baby’s airway stays open so breathing is not affected.
• Undress your baby down to the diaper and place him directly on your bare chest, vertically between your breasts. In the NICU babies are often cared for in a warm incubator so they are already undressed and ready for skin-to-skin! Your nurse will help you carefully position wires and tubes.
• Cover baby with a blanket or consider using a wrap like SleepBelt for added support. In our NICU we now provide a SleepBelt for parents during skin-to-skin holding sessions, which helps securely position your baby on your belly, while also maintaining warmth and privacy. SleepBelt has a soft, stretchy fabric that mimics the womb, so even the smallest of babies can be comfortable and secure. It doesn’t have complicated buckles, knots or straps and doesn’t interfere with medical tubing or wires, and has been used in NICU’s on babies as small as 1000g. SleepBelt can also be a terrific hospital bag item for parents with full-term babies because it enables a hands-free, and safer skin-to-skin experience (I used one myself!)
• Practice skin-to-skin for as long as possible and as frequently as possible during the post-partum period. You can enjoy skin-to-skin contact as soon as the NICU staff feel it is safe. I encourage families to practice skin-to-skin for an uninterrupted 60 minutes, as much and as often as possible, during the first 12 weeks and beyond; even once they are able to take their babies home
• Get dad involved too. Kangaroo Care can empower dads so they also feel like a significant person in their infant’s life. Babies love skin-to-skin holding with Dads and partners too!

Parents often tell me how helpless they feel while their baby is in the NICU. I always tell them that participating in Kangaroo Care means they are giving their baby the best care possible.

Also published on the Yummy Mummy Club Online!

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