how to breastfeed

You’ve probably already discovered that, as soon as you announce your pregnancy, the world and his wife come forward with a mass of conflicting advice and information on how to breastfeed and bring up your baby! While a lot of this is undoubtedly helpful, some of it is simply not true. We put the facts straight, so you can put your mind at rest.

“YOUR MILK IS EITHER TOO WEAK OR TOO STRONG”

Not true. Breast milk is always just right. It changes as the feed progresses, from watery, thirst-quenching foremilk at the beginning to rich, nutritious hindmilk as the feed goes on. Don’t worry about what it looks like: watery or creamy, it doesn’t matter. It’s perfectly balanced for your baby.

“YOUR BABY’S FEEDING SO OFTEN, YOU CAN’T HAVE ENOUGH MILK”

Not true. If your feeding position’s right and your baby’s settled after feeds then frequent feeding is good – it’s stimulating plenty of milk for the future. Sometimes babies just need a drink rather than a full meal. And remember, your newborn’s stomach is only the size of a walnut, so he or she needs to fill up little and often!

“FEEDS SHOULD BE TIMED AND LIMITED TO 4 HOURLY INTERVALS”

Not true. Make sure your baby latches on well and feed on demand. Your baby’s appetite will vary from one feed to the next and one day to the next, so don’t expect any pattern or routine in the first few weeks.

“IF YOU HAVE MASTITIS YOU MUST STOP FEEDING”

Not true. It’s important to relieve the breast of milk. The antibiotics prescribed for mastitis won’t harm your baby – although they can lead to a few more pooey nappies!

“TOO MUCH BREAST MILK CAN MAKE YOUR BABY FAT”

Not true. Breast milk is nutritionally perfect. Its composition changes over the weeks and months to maintain a balanced diet, constantly suited to your growing baby.

“YOU CAN’T GET PREGNANT WHILE YOU’RE STILL BREASTFEEDING”

OH YES YOU CAN! It’s advisable to arrange contraception with your doctor or family planning clinic, or ask one of the breastfeeding organisations about natural contraception whilst breastfeeding.

If you have decided to breastfeed for the first time and don’t know where to begin, this guide is perfect for you. The following are the most commonly asked questions on the subject of how to breastfeed. If you can’t find what you’re looking for here, be sure to visit our breastfeeding advice page for a range of other breastfeeding topics.

“I’M WORRIED I WON’T BE ABLE TO BREASTFEED”

Mums have been getting to grips with breastfeeding for thousands of years and most of them started out feeling just as nervous and inexperienced as you! Just relax, stick with it and follow our mum to mum advice, and in no time at all you’ll be enjoying one of the best kinds of job satisfaction there is.

“HOW DO I START BREASTFEEDING?”

• Firstly, find a comfortable position for both of you, with phone and remote near to your free hand as you may be there for some time.
• Sit with your back straight and as many cushions or pillows on your lap as you need to bring your baby up to breast level.
• Turn your baby into your body to face you, with your nipple level with baby’s nose.
• Let your baby’s mouth brush the nipple and you’ll find she will open her mouth.
• Wait until your baby’s mouth is open really wide, then aim your nipple at the roof of your baby’s mouth and bring him/her onto the breast.
• Always bring your baby to your breast and not the other way round, as this allows the baby to latch on correctly and is easier on your back.
• If your baby has latched on correctly you will not be able to see any of the nipple nor most of the areola (the dark area around the nipple).
• Remember your baby should be breastfeeding and not nipple feeding.
• Put out of mind any images you may have of your baby bottle feeding because the breastfeeding position is very different.

“HOW DO I KNOW IF I AM DOING IT RIGHT?”

You know it’s going well if your baby’s mouth is wide open and their bottom lip is curled back – although admittedly it’s hard to see that from your position!

Other reassuring signs are the tops of your baby’s ears wiggle when they suck and you can hear the sound of your baby swallowing.

You may also notice a tingling feeling in your breast as the milk flows down to your nipple when she’s latched on properly.

If you’re in any discomfort after the first few seconds, just slip your finger gently into the corner of your baby’s mouth to unlatch him/her, and then try again.

“WHAT ELSE CAN I DO TO MAKE SURE MY BABY FEEDS WELL?”

Practice makes perfect - Helping your baby latch onto your breast is the main skill you both need to learn in the early days, and with practice you’ll be glad you hung in there. After about 4 to 6 weeks it gets a lot easier.

Eat and drink well – It is better to eat regularly and probably more calories than you would normally be used to, in order to maintain a good milk supply without you feeling tired, irritable and even depressed. As in pregnancy, try to eat a balanced diet with as much fresh food as possible. You may be more thirsty so aim to drink lots of water and not too much tea, coffee or fizzy drinks. Even sparkling water should be avoided, because the acidity can filter through into your milk and make your baby feel unsettled. It’s a good idea to keep a jug or glass of water close at hand, especially when you’re actually feeding.

“HOW DO I KNOW WHEN MY BABY HAS HAD ENOUGH?”

• Once your baby’s properly latched on, you should let them feed until they let go of the breast or fall asleep.
• You should offer both breasts at every feed, although your baby may not want both every time.
• If your baby fills up on just one breast, offer her the other one first next time.
• Some mums find attaching a ribbon to that bra strap is a good reminder.

“HOW OFTEN SHOULD I FEED?”

• Your body makes milk on a supply and demand basis, so the more your baby feeds, the more milk you’ll produce.
• Feed your baby on demand to preserve you supply of milk.
• You also need plenty of rest, especially in the early days, to maximise your milk production.

“WHEN CAN I INTRODUCE A BOTTLE OR SOOTHER?”

You may be keen to get your baby used to a bottle, but it’s best to wait 4 weeks until breastfeeding is really well established, in case you put your baby off the breast. Sucking on a teat is different from sucking on a nipple, and baby’s can get confused in the early weeks.

“SHOULD I GIVE MY BABY EXTRA WATER OR FORMULA?”

Providing your baby is feeding regularly on demand, gaining weight and having 6-8 wet nappies in 24 hours, the answer is no! Breast milk is all your baby needs and introducing anything else will reduce the amount of time your baby sucks at your breast – which will in turn reduce your milk production.