When to feed the baby. The first days of feeding a newborn baby. Attachment in different postures

19.01.2022

How to feed a newborn baby is a question that often confronts mothers immediately after childbirth. Indeed, during pregnancy, few of us prepare for breastfeeding.

Every expectant mother knows that she needs to breastfeed her baby, but few people know how to successfully implement this in practice.

Often, this anxiety can be exacerbated by bad feeding experiences of friends who report that there are “non-dairy moms” or that breastfeeding is painful and unpleasant.

Mothers who transferred babies to artificial feeding in the first 3 months of life give the following reasons for this:

difficulties at the beginning of feeding (cracks, soreness when sucking the baby breast);
ignorance of how the “breast works” and what determines the amount of milk;
there was no one to teach...

But everything could have turned out differently if an experienced and knowledgeable person were next to my mother.

In this article we will consider the features of feeding a child from the first minutes of life.

So, what you need to know and remember about the beginning of feeding?

In order for the mother's body to receive confirmation of the birth of the child, so that an active impulse to produce milk goes on, the child must be attached to the breast after childbirth.

Very often in maternity hospitals they try to carry out this procedure 2-3 minutes after the birth of the baby, and when the child refuses to breastfeed, they say that he does not want or is not hungry. In fact, the baby needs rest, because he has done a lot of work.

That's why it is reasonable to carry out the first application 15-40 minutes after birth, and until that time, let the doctors carry out their necessary manipulations: measure height and weight.

Even if after this time the baby does not show a desire to take the breast, do not part with him, let him be next to you, perhaps the birth was a little more difficult for him than you might think.

You need to be patient and wait - he will definitely want to suck - he will start sticking out his tongue, turning his head around, he will stick to his fists or the edge of the diaper - do not miss this moment.

Remember that the baby needs time to get to know the breast: he usually takes and releases the breast several times, takes and lets go - he learns to properly latch on to the breast and suck milk well, and the end of the training is active, prolonged breast sucking.

It is very important that the baby stimulates both breasts by sucking: he clearly knows his task, and after 40-60 minutes, having sucked on one breast, releases it and begins to turn his head in search of the second. But the staff of the maternity hospital, as soon as the baby releases his mother’s breast, happily comments: “Well, here we are!” Try to make sure that you are not separated from the baby after birth, let him be with you both in the first 2 hours while you are in the postpartum ward under the supervision of doctors, and for the rest of the time until you are discharged from the hospital.

Next, the mother is expected by the so-called molosal period.

All women who have given birth have colostrum (it begins to be produced even during pregnancy), it is not very much - only 30-100 ml. per day, but it is this amount that is now optimally suited to meet all the needs of the baby.

The molosal period lasts from 3 to 5 days.

And the main task of both mother and child during this period is to learn how to properly attach.

In the vast majority of cases, the practice of lactation consultants, in parallel with the solution of the problem, is occupied by the correction of attachment: after all, it is the quality of breast sucking that affects the amount of milk, weight gain, painless, pleasant feeding.

Why do so many women suffer from improper attachment?

The first reason is that often the child receives a bottle or pacifier in the hospital and honestly fixes this method of sucking, applying it to the chest.

Remember that babies suckle pacifiers and breasts differently.

To suck a bottle, you do not need to open your mouth wide, you do not need to strain your jaw muscles.

Try to do everything possible so that your child does not get a bottle: arrange with the doctor and let the child always be with you - this will avoid precedents. Even if for some reason you cannot breastfeed your baby, warn the doctors not to give the baby a bottle, it is better to use a spoon.

In maternity hospitals, a woman is not taught proper attachment.

The heavy workload of workers does not allow paying attention to each newly-made mother, sitting next to her, practicing and controlling the application.

A primiparous woman has never been left alone with a baby.

An experienced woman was constantly nearby, who successfully fed her children, who taught the young mother how to handle the baby: how to feed, how to breastfeed, how to swaddle, how to bathe, how to carry in her arms and other elements of care.

In our country, most women have to learn on their own: from books, articles, forums. However, learning to latch can be compared to some kind of art, for example, the art of baking pancakes. It is very difficult for a newly-made cook to explain in words the technique of turning the pan at the right angle so that the dough spreads evenly and does not tear. Agree that after seeing this experimental movement once, having trained a little on your own, everything is easy and effortless. It's the same with proper application.

There are clear signs that the attachment is suffering and needs to be corrected as soon as possible (after all, we are talking about the comfort and health of both mother and child):

while the baby is sucking at the breast - it hurts you!
it seems to you that the mouth of the child is very small, and you cannot put the breast there;
you hear air whistles, clicks;
baby's lips are not turned out;
your nipple is bright red and painful to the touch;
you have cracks in your chest!

For example, recently Svetlana turned to a consultant for help. Irishka was her first child. Mom went to prenatal training courses, where breastfeeding and the signs of proper attachment were analyzed in detail.

It was not clear to the mother why, if the child's lips were twisted, there were no air whistles, the mouth was wide open - she felt pain during feeding! After all, all the signs of proper application are evident. On a visit to this mother, it turned out that what she took for a “wide-open mouth” in fact was not such, because the baby was the first and there was nothing to compare with.

As soon as the mother was shown what a “wide” mouth means and how to quickly put the breast into the baby’s mouth, everything fell into place. After 2 days, the soreness during feeding was gone. As you can see, timely practical help is the key to a long and successful feeding.

As a result, mom can enjoy calm feeding, get a decent weight gain from the little one and enjoy the look of his plump cheeks.

I talk about the correct attachment to the chest in this short video tutorial:

milk arrival time. By this point, you have already completed the minimum program - you have trained the application - and now it remains only to correctly follow all the rules of breastfeeding.

When the baby is cohabitated with the mother, the mother puts it to the breast often: once every 1.5-2 hours. (although remember that some babies may suck more often), monitors the uniform change of breasts (every 1.5-2 hours), pays attention to the quality of attachment and active sucking of the baby - you may not even notice the arrival of milk!

The only thing that indicates the arrival of milk: the baby begins to write more, and the breast increases slightly in size, but this does not cause discomfort.
So, summing up, we can say that any feeding can be successful, but for this it is not enough just to prepare for it: attend thematic lectures, read information on specialized sites.

It is best to enlist the support of an experienced nursing mother or a lactation specialist who will be able to come to your hospital on the first day after birth and show you how to properly feed your baby, this way you will give yourself a guarantee for a long and pleasant feeding.

Happy delivery and happy feeding!

Today, all parents understand the importance of breastfeeding. Everyone knows that mother's milk is the optimal nutrition for the baby and there is no equivalent substitute for it. However, in practice there are not so many nursing mothers. Why?
Many women stop breastfeeding in the very first months. There are many reasons for this, but most of them are the inability to feed properly. Let's try to understand the process of feeding in order to establish breastfeeding from the very beginning of lactation.

1. Where does milk come from?

The process of milk formation begins immediately after childbirth, although even during pregnancy, the breast begins to actively prepare for the feeding process and trains, producing the first drops of colostrum. The production and excretion of milk is subject to hormones, and many external and internal factors influence the production of hormones. The first hormone that is responsible for milk production is prolactin, it controls the work of the gland and stimulates its production of milk. This hormone acts on the principle of “stimulation from the periphery” - the better the gland is emptied and the more the baby sucks, the more the hormone is produced and the more milk comes. In addition, the maximum amount of this hormone is produced at night, so night feedings are extremely important, which will lay the required amount of milk for the whole next day.

2. Simple rules.

Rule number one: We feed often and for a long time, do not skip night feedings. This is necessary so that the breast is effectively emptied and there is enough milk.

The second hormone important for lactation is oxytocin, which, unlike prolactin, affects the separation of ready-made milk from the breast, contracting the muscle cells inside the ducts and pushing the milk out. This hormone is very sensitive to the mother's well-being, her mood and thoughts. Often, when remembering a child, inhaling his smell or crying, milk will be released from the chest - this is the oxytocin reflex. With stress, pain, fatigue, inconvenience or negative emotions, some or almost all of oxytocin is blocked, and milk cannot be released from the breast. Moms say "milk is wasted" - this is not true. It's there, it just can't stand out.

Rule number two: focus on the baby, do not worry, do not be nervous and be sure of success - then everything will work out. Positive emotions increase the release of oxytocin and help the baby get milk!
Early start.
For the formation of lactation, it is very important to start feeding as early as possible, therefore it is so important that the first application takes place in the delivery room in the first 20-30 minutes of the baby's life. This will allow you to establish close emotional bonds between you and the baby, and will launch a complex mechanism of hormonal activation of milk production. In addition, active breast sucking contributes to the rapid delivery of the placenta and uterine contraction, preventing bleeding.

Colostrum has the most valuable properties for the baby - it helps to establish the correct microflora, meconium discharge, envelops the intestinal walls, preventing allergens from penetrating through them, and saturates the child, because it is very high in calories. If it is not possible to apply the baby in the delivery room, try to do it as early as possible. It is optimal for mother and baby to stay together from birth - this helps to establish breastfeeding, promotes faster recovery after childbirth.

Rule number three: we choose a maternity hospital with a joint stay and early attachment of the baby to the breast, we feed the baby from the very first minutes of his life on demand.

3. Correct application.

In order for breastfeeding to bring only positive emotions, the baby must be able to take the breast correctly. Then mom can relax and feed for a long time. When feeding, the mother should not experience inconvenience, and even more so pain in the chest. When properly applied, the baby effectively empties the chest, gains weight well, he does not swallow excess air, which means that he is less likely to develop colic and. It is especially important to learn how to attach the baby to the breast in the very first days, this will help to avoid problems with the breast - cracks and engorgement. Read up on proper attachment materials beforehand or get the help of a breastfeeding consultant, usually available in maternity hospitals.
With the right grip, the baby's mouth opens wide and, as it were, "puts on" the nipple. The baby's cheeks and nose touch the chest, most of the areola (the areola) is in the mouth, more from the bottom - then the nipple of the breast will be located deep in the baby's mouth, closer to the sky, and it will be convenient for him to make sucking movements and effectively suck milk. When properly applied, no sounds are heard (smacking, champing, clattering, clicking), except for the sound of swallowing milk. If pain occurs during feeding, it does not need to be endured - insert the little finger into the corner of the baby's mouth and take out the breast, try to breastfeed the baby again correctly. Slide the nipple over your baby's cheek or lips, and when he opens his mouth as wide as possible, give the breast.

The correct grip on the breast is important, with it the baby sucks the breast effectively. Make sure your baby is always latching on correctly.

4. Choose poses.

To feed the baby, you need to choose a convenient one for both of you, since sometimes the baby can suckle for quite a long time. During feeding, you should rest and communicate with the baby. You can feed in a sitting position, lying down, standing up, using various devices - feeding pillows, slings and other accessories. Choose for yourself a few of the most comfortable, you should not feed constantly in the same position, since different parts of the breast are emptied in different ways in different positions. Therefore, it is necessary to alternate the “lying” or “sitting” positions, at least once a day it is recommended to feed the baby in the “from under the arm” position. If you are sitting, you can put a bench under your feet, you can put pillows around yourself or put a voluminous pillow under your back.
Choose for yourself several positions for feeding, the main thing is that in each position you and the baby should be comfortable, you should be relaxed.

5. Is there enough milk?

This question makes almost all nursing mothers worry. The fact is that, unlike the mixture, which is clearly measured for a given volume, when sucking from the chest, it is not clear how much the baby exactly ate. Therefore, the mother begins to worry about the question: “Has the little one eaten enough, is there enough milk for him?” There are many false indicators that mislead parents. You should not be guided by the fullness of the breast or the child's sucking of the fist, frequent weighing before and after feeding are not objective signs.
The first thing to evaluate is the number of wet diapers per day, there should be at least 10 of them. Second - evaluate the baby's stool - it should be up to several times a day, usually yellow gruel with the smell of sour milk. Third - the baby must add at least 500 g per month, or 125 g per week. It doesn’t make sense to weigh the baby more often, there is a concept of growth spurts, that is, they add crumbs unevenly: they can add 100 g in one week, and 350 g in the second. The fourth and most important thing is that the baby feels good, cheerful, grows and develops according to age .
In order not to worry about the amount of milk, just count the diapers that the baby used per day and assess his condition - he should add at least 500 g per month.

6. How to feed?

Numerous studies have confirmed that previously practiced feedings at strictly specified intervals have not justified themselves. Rather, they harm good lactation and long and successful feeding. Therefore, the rhythm of free feeding is considered optimal, at the first request of the baby. In addition, any anxiety of the baby is the reason for breastfeeding, because the mother's breast is not only food, but also drink, play, soothe, caress and medicine. In the first months of life, the baby can be applied to the breast up to 20 times a day. It is necessary to feed both day and night, then there will be enough milk, there will be no painful breast swelling and the baby will be full.
It is necessary to feed the child on demand, it is not necessary to allow long intervals in feeding.

7. Duration of feedings.

At the very beginning of feeding, the baby receives fore milk, which is thinner and rich in lactose (milk sugar), which quickly saturates the baby with energy and fluid. Further, with further sucking, hind milk, more fatty, begins to be released, which provides a supply of energy for the duration of sleep or wakefulness and is stored in reserve, ensures growth and weight gain. Therefore, it is important not to limit the baby in sucking, to give him the opportunity to let go of the breast or fall asleep.
There is no need to limit the time the baby is at the breast, give him the opportunity to let go of the breast himself.

8. Should I pump or not?

If the baby takes the breast correctly and sucks well, there is no need for. Moreover, regular pumping after feedings can lead to hyperlactation and breast problems. Breast pumping is necessary only in some cases:

the inability to constantly be with the child and feed him;
if the baby is very weak and cannot suckle himself, then it will be necessary to express milk and supplement the baby from a spoon;
if the chest feels full or there are seals that the baby cannot dissolve.

Milk is allocated on a supply-demand basis, and do not be zealous with pumping, otherwise the next time there will be even more milk.

Don't pump your breast just for the sake of it, pumping is required only in special cases. In all others - let's breastfeed more often.

With the advent of your baby into the world, many questions arise, and probably the very first of them is nutrition. After all, a calm sleep, a normal chair and the rest of the mother herself depend on properly organized feeding. How to properly organize the process itself, and how often to feed a newborn?

From this article you will learn:

On the first or second day, a woman who has given birth to a child has colostrum, which you need to start feeding your baby. On about 3-6 days, it will be replaced by breast milk. And so that all processes are set up and work correctly, and your baby gets good nutrition, you should often put the baby to the chest, at his request.

Here are some tips to help organize the feeding process:

Try to breastfeed your baby every two hours. Let him suck even a small amount of colostrum.
Don't panic. This is enough for a child. Your nervous state is transmitted to the baby and he begins to act up, but this does not mean that he wants to eat.
Feel free to contact the medical staff for help. If you do not know how to put the baby to the breast and how often to feed the baby - ask the midwife, she will show you everything and help you.
Choose a comfortable position for you and your child. Learn to breastfeed him properly, it won't work the first time, but with a little practice you'll be fine.
Drink plenty of liquids: tea or water.
Do not supplement your child with water and do not give him formula.

How often to feed a newborn baby

To decide how many times a day to feed your newborn baby, observe his behavior. Most often, the baby is applied to the breast every 3 or 4 hours. However, it is worth feeding the baby on demand - he will never eat more than necessary, so you will not overfeed him.

The frequency of milk intake depends on the duration of the sucking process. After all, it happens that a child falls asleep without having time to get enough, then he will wake up from hunger and the interval between meals will be less.

Watch your baby's behavior

If the mother manages to notice the baby's signals that he is ready to suckle, then he will not need to cry and draw attention to himself. As a result, you have a calm baby, and you are happy parents!

To understand how often to feed a newborn, you need to learn to distinguish what the baby wants. In the first weeks of life, breastfeeding is able to meet all the needs of the child: nutrition, communication, protection and comfort. However, there are some signs by which you can determine that the baby is hungry.

Signs of hunger in newborns:

noticeable movement of the eyes under the eyelids;
there is muscle tension;
the baby begins to spin, spin;
makes various sounds;
puts his hands in his mouth;
tries to suck his hand or an object nearby.

How to feed a newborn properly

There are several rules that must be followed when feeding a child.

wash your hands with soap;
wipe the nipple with a little of your milk;
properly breastfeed the baby;
make sure that the child captures the areola, and not just the nipple itself;
after the baby has had enough and let go of the breast, hold him upright;
put the baby on the side.

Feeding at night

The digestive system of young children does not allow them to go without food for a long time. Therefore, you will have to get up at night to feed your child. Some sleep with the child, the so-called joint sleep, so that without getting up, feed the awakened baby. Others are afraid to lie on the child in a dream and therefore sleep separately. There are no right decisions here. How to arrange your sleep, and how it will be more convenient, is up to your family to decide.

It is important, when feeding at night, to attach to the baby's breast several times between 3 and 9 o'clock. This aids in the milk production process. The rest of the time you can feed him on demand.

Comfortable positions for feeding

In what position to feed the baby does not matter, the main thing is convenience for you and the child. Today on sale you can see special pillows for feeding. You can use them, but you can do without such a pillow.

sitting position

It is convenient for some mothers to feed the baby while sitting on a chair, armchair or bed. In this position, under the head of the child is the hand on the side of which he will receive the breast. When he grows up, he will be able to eat sitting on your leg.

Lying position

It is more convenient to feed the baby lying on its side. It is worth putting the baby on a pillow so that you do not have to bend over and strain your back muscles.

How often to formula feed a newborn

What to do if your baby is bottle-fed. How often to feed the newborn in this case? Doctors are unanimous in their position on this issue - you need to adhere to the feeding regimen no more than 3 hours later. This allows you to establish a regular chair in the baby.

There is also a formula by which the formula is calculated: the number of days of a child's life is multiplied by 80 (if the baby was born more than 3.2 kg) and by 70 (if his weight was less than 3.2 kg). For example, if a child is 6 days old and was born with a weight of 3 kg, then his daily ration should be 420 ml (6x70). You need to divide this volume by the number of feedings and get the norm of the mixture at one time. Most often, a monthly baby drinks 30-60 ml of milk formula at a time.

Should I give my newborn water?

But on this issue there is no unanimity of opinion. It all depends on the climate of the room in which the baby is located. If it is too hot and stuffy, then you should give the child boiled water, but you should not abuse it, because after drinking water, he will eat less milk.

If you practice swimming in cool water, then you should also give your child water. However, it should be said that breastfeeding is able to provide the baby with all the substances he needs, so in most cases it is not necessary to supplement the child.

Ask questions to the medical staff and report anything that worries you so that you can return home as informed as possible.

Colostrum and mother's milk

Until the mother has real breast milk, which happens about 3 days after birth, your baby will be fed colostrum, a yellowish liquid that the mammary glands produce.

Useful properties of colostrum. This is a milk concentrate that fully meets the first needs of your child. With a strong laxative effect, it speeds up the removal of meconium (original feces) from the baby's body, reducing the risk of infantile jaundice. Thanks to its rich content of fats, sugar, salt and proteins, it eliminates the risk of hypoglycemia and dehydration.

Colostrum is very valuable for your baby's health, because it is his first defense against germs and viruses. In fact, it contains a high concentration of secretory immunoglobulin A, which creates the first anti-infective barrier and also stimulates the development of the immune system. Thus, your child will not only be protected from infections, but his own immune defenses will also turn on faster.

Benefits of mother's milk. Mother's milk is easily absorbed by the baby's body. It perfectly adapts to the needs of the baby, born at term or prematurely, day after day, week after week, throughout the feeding period.

At the beginning of feeding, milk is light, watery, rich in lactose; during this period it contains especially a lot of water. Then the milk thickens and becomes "fat", more nutritious (the amount of fat increases four times). Therefore, it is recommended to give the child alternately the left and right breasts.

The composition of milk in all women is different and changes every day and even during the day; thus, the concentration of milk fats rises from 6 to 10 am and is higher during the day than at night. Breast milk is always at the right temperature, sterile, and has a variety of flavors depending on what the mother eats.

Start feeding

A young mother has to listen to different conflicting opinions that only confuse her! Our helpful tips will help you determine if your baby is breastfeeding correctly and getting enough milk.
You two study together. Always keep in mind that not only you are involved in breastfeeding, but also your baby. Some women carefully prepare in advance for breastfeeding, but from the very beginning, everything does not go as they expected. The baby also has a share of the responsibility! He may find it difficult to take the breast, he may be nervous, etc.

First two hours. Ideally, the newborn is breastfed for the first time within two hours of delivery. The mother at this moment is very receptive, all the feelings of the baby are awakened, and his reflexes are especially strong. But the first feeding is not always easy, patience and calmness are required. Let your baby take the breast on his own so that he learns to suck by instinct. Attempts to help most often only frighten the baby, even lead to the fact that he refuses to breastfeed.

Indeed, if a child is forcefully applied to the breast, he can scream, and then his tongue is pressed against the palate, and does not curl up around the nipple. Then he physiologically cannot suck.

If your baby doesn't latch on properly right away, don't worry. Give him time to get to know you. Soon you will have many opportunities to teach him to suck productively! Remember that for this first breastfeeding, the “result” is not as important as the physical contact, the closeness; the moment when you and your child study each other is very important.

In the first hours after childbirth. In the first day after birth, your baby will be tired, he will sleep a lot ... just like you! He must rest, because the birth was a real test for him, for which he spent a lot of energy. However, the breasts need to be stimulated to produce milk. Indeed, the production of milk throughout breastfeeding depends on how often the baby is applied to the breast and how effectively it is stimulated in the early days. To make your baby want to breastfeed, use the following tips.

Hold him in your arms: your smell, contact with your body can make him want to suck.

Watch him and you will notice the first signs that he is ready to feed. Rapid eye movements indicate that he is dozing (feeding in deep sleep is doomed to failure!); moving lips and tongue, bringing hands to mouth, smacking and restless body movements will tell you that your baby is ready to feed. And only in extreme cases, when he is really hungry, he will scream! In this case, you will have to first calm him down so that he can latch on properly.

At each feeding, let the baby alternate between the left and right breasts, then put it on the shoulder in an upright position so that it burps if necessary, stroke its legs, face, check if it is hot, change the diaper.

The pros of breastfeeding

Breastfeeding is very beneficial for both the baby and the mother.
Breast milk gives the baby antibodies to many infections and in a short time significantly reduces the risk of gastrointestinal (diarrhea) and respiratory (asthma) diseases, as well as otitis media and nasopharyngitis.
Breastfeeding can prevent postpartum hemorrhage in the mother: contractions (the so-called postpartum cramps) that cause the hormone oxytocin, which is also involved in lactation, contribute to the reduction of the uterus.
Breastfeeding also has a long-term beneficial effect: it reduces the risk of allergies, obesity and diabetes in a child.

Attachment to the chest

It is important to be able to properly attach the baby to the breast, as nipple cracks and other unpleasant consequences occur due to incorrect posture when feeding. You should make yourself comfortable (see p. 351) and relax. Place pillows under your elbow and under the baby so that he lies under your chest, and also under your back so that you do not have to bend over to him. Hold the baby close to you. His ear, shoulder, and hip should be in line, meaning he shouldn't bend to reach your chest. His nose and chin are touching your chest, his belly is touching yours (if both of you were naked, your navels would be touching).

To help your baby, you can give him the breast by taking it in your hand and bending it into a “C” shape, that is, placing your thumb on the chest and the other four fingers under it, away from the areola. Your baby should now open their mouth wide, as if they are yawning. Tell him: "Open your mouth!" (and very soon you will notice that he understands you), stroking his lower lip with a nipple or gently lowering his chin with your fingers. At this point, quickly bring the baby to your chest with the same hand that you hold him with. He should capture the nipple and the largest possible part of the areola with his mouth; your nipple should touch the depths of his palate.

Increased sensitivity. In the early days of breastfeeding, you may be concerned about the increased sensitivity of the breast. The strength of the sucking movements of the baby is great; don't be surprised if it hurts at first.

Bottles, nipples, breast pumps. Avoid the use of bottles and nipples, which interfere with proper latch on; also avoid silicone breast pads (or breast pumps), which can cause clogging of the milk ducts, leading to pain in the chest and nipples; they also accustom the child to an incorrect position at the breast, and this is then difficult to correct.

I have very small breasts. Will I still have enough milk to feed my baby?

Feeding and breast size

In no case should you rely on the appearance of the breast, making predictions about the mother's ability to breastfeed. The size of the female breast depends on the amount of adipose tissue contained in it, which does not affect the production of breast milk and does not determine its quality.

Breast enlargement during pregnancy is a sign of good breast function. Contrary to popular belief, almost all women are capable of breastfeeding if they are sufficiently educated.
Milk production depends more on hormones and on the correct attachment of the baby to the breast than on its volume!

Proper breastfeeding

To determine if your baby is suckling properly, check to see if his lips are pulled out towards the outside of his chest. His tongue should stick out and curl up under your breasts (covering his bottom gum). His temple moves in rhythm with the sucking movements, and when he swallows, you can notice the movement from below the ear (about two sucking movements, there is one swallowing). At the same time, he should neither make clicking sounds nor retract his cheeks. You should not feel pain, except for the first days when the sensitivity of the breast is increased. During feeding, your baby is calm, and at the end looks full.

If you or your child feel uncomfortable, start over and try as many times as necessary. Attention: do not tear the baby from the breast, do not pull him back: he sucks with such force that he can hurt you! It is better to put your little finger in the corner of his mouth; then he will instinctively open it, and you can try again.

The appearance of milk

On the second or third day after birth, the mother produces milk, under the influence of the hormone prolactin. By this time, milk production becomes necessary to meet the growing needs of the child: the volume of his stomach, which at birth contained from 5 to 7 ml, after 3 days increases 5 times!

The mother's breasts can be very tense, swollen and therefore often sore. However, do not put nursing cups in your bra: they can only aggravate the situation by stimulating milk production. Painful sensations will soon stop: feeding will regulate the production of milk. To prevent stains on your clothes due to its "leakage", you can put special feeding inserts (made of cotton, not plastic, to avoid debate). If you have too much milk, ask the staff at the maternity hospital if it is possible to donate it to a breast milk donor station located in your city or department.

The rhythm of feeding

Breastfeeding is a special moment that you do not have to share with others! You need to be relaxed, and the presence of other people can make you uncomfortable. Your baby will need rest too, especially at the beginning.

Require privacy. At the maternity hospital, ask to be left alone with the baby when you need to feed him. Ask the child's father to speak to your visitors and politely let them know that you need peace. In the future, everything will work out naturally, depending on your characters, as well as how the feeding will go. It is important that you are relaxed when feeding and feel that your baby is calm.

duration of feeding. To understand your child and his needs, forget about the clock and watch him. There is no "hourly rate" for breastfeeding. One feeding can last from 10 minutes (two times 5 minutes) to 40 minutes (two times 20 minutes) and even more. It all depends on how much milk the baby swallows when sucking, as well as on the flow of milk from the mother. You should notice when he sucks productively: the first movements will be quick, then more measured.

At the end of feeding, the intervals between sucking movements should become longer and longer. At the same time, you may begin to feel sleepy or you will feel thirsty. Therefore, prepare a large glass of water for each feeding.

Feeding frequency. The rhythm of feedings is established over time: at first, the child may fall asleep without being completely satiated, and then after a short break, he will ask for food again. Gradually, the situation stabilizes, and, as a rule, after some time after returning home, there are from 8 to 12 feedings per day. Remember to feed both the left and right breasts at every feed, even if your baby seems to be a little tired and dozing off. The more your baby suckles at the breast, the more milk it will produce.

If you are discouraged

It happens that a mother, knowing about the benefits of breastfeeding, prepares a few weeks before childbirth and proceeds to it quite confidently; but even then it is not without moments of despondency. All this is in the order of things: the circumstances under which you begin to feed your baby are not simple. Fatigue after childbirth, residual pain after episiotomy, baby's refusal to breastfeed, postpartum depression, confusion. As a result, because of all these unpleasant factors, your determination to feed can be shaken.

Be sure to share your doubts with someone: with someone from the clinic staff, with the father of the child, with a friend - it doesn’t matter. The most important thing is not to be ashamed if something doesn't work out for you. Don't feel guilty if you can only talk about it through tears! Let the nurse check if you are in the correct position when feeding; ask her any questions you have. Things will gradually get better if you talk about your problems and ask for help.

Childbirth is the signal for the onset of lactation. It should be said that with natural childbirth, the formation of lactation occurs faster than with operative delivery. Nevertheless, high-quality breastfeeding can be established after a caesarean section, and even when the mother is forced to separate from the baby for health reasons for up to several weeks.

How does lactation develop?

The formation of lactation takes place in several stages. At the initial stage, colostrum is formed in the mammary gland - a thick yellowish liquid, which is characterized by high energy and nutritional value and has a pronounced immune activity. Colostrum begins to be produced even during pregnancy, and after childbirth, it provides the baby with the biologically active substances and energy it needs during the first 3-5 days.

It should be said that the body of a newborn is experiencing tremendous stress associated with adaptation in a new environment for him, therefore, colostrum for the newly born crumbs is a very valuable product that allows you not to prematurely load the digestive system with a large amount of nutrition, and the immature liver and kidneys are a necessity. transform and remove foreign substances from the body. Considering that everything you need is contained in just a few drops of liquid, which, moreover, digests itself due to the active enzymes contained in it, the baby significantly saves strength in the process of feeding, allowing his body to use energy more efficiently.

On the 4–5th day, a transitional one begins to be produced in the mammary gland of a woman, as a result of which its “maturation” occurs: the protein concentration gradually decreases, while the content of milk fat and sugar, on the contrary, increases. The amount of minerals and vitamins gradually comes into line with those in mature milk. The "transition" stage is characterized by a significant increase in the volume of milk produced, which is subjectively felt by a woman as a rush. At the same time, the mammary glands increase in size, their engorgement occurs due to the filling of small milk ducts with milk.

By the 2nd or 3rd week after birth, the milk becomes mature - its composition is more stable than that of the transitional one, and the volume of production is more regulated by the individual needs of the crumbs.

Breastfeeding should begin immediately after childbirth. The duration and quality of subsequent breastfeeding is largely determined by the successful development of the necessary skills in the very first days after childbirth and their consolidation in practice.

Breastfeeding regimen in the first days after childbirth

The first attachment of the baby to the breast should ideally take place within the first 30 minutes after birth and last for at least 20 minutes.

Huge: in a woman's body, it actively starts the process of lactation, helps to contract the muscles of the uterus and stop postpartum bleeding. The newborn, along with colostrum, receives a powerful energy boost, a portion of protective immune factors and substances that stimulate the growth of beneficial microflora in the intestines.

The impossibility of early attachment to the breast is usually due to deviations in the state of health of the mother or the newborn, for example, deep prematurity of the baby or depression of his central nervous system, Rhesus conflict. Most contraindications to breastfeeding are temporary and should not be taken as a sentence by the mother.

From the first days of a baby's life, it is necessary to focus on a free-feeding regimen. In this case, the child is applied to the breast as often as he wants. The frequency of feeding a newborn can reach 10-12 times a day, while at night the need for feeding may be higher than during the day. It is very important not to additionally feed the baby with milk formula, not to give him water, and also not to use objects that imitate the breast (nipples, pacifiers) in child care, since, by satisfying the baby's sucking reflex, they violate the rhythm of stimulation of the breast gland necessary for the formation of lactation . Subsequently, when the baby grows up, he will develop his own diet - from 6 to 8 times a day.

The time spent at the breast is individual for each child. However, it is desirable that the duration of one feeding does not exceed 20–30 minutes, since ineffective prolonged sucking often provokes the appearance of cracks and irritation of the nipples. If the baby sucks sluggishly and sleeps at the breast, you can try to stir him up by stroking his cheek or heel. Weakened children who find it difficult to "cope" with the breast are recommended to be applied more often. Before the arrival of milk, it is advisable to apply the child to both mammary glands every feeding. This will serve as a good stimulation of lactation. After the milk has appeared, this practice can be continued for some time, which will alleviate the symptoms of "hot flush", gradually implementing the "one breast per feeding" rule.

Mastering the technique of breastfeeding is very important. Proper technique ensures better emptying of the mammary gland, which means it effectively stimulates lactation. The optimal grip of the nipple and areola during sucking is the prevention of cracks and ensures the tightness of the contact between the lips, tongue of the baby and the skin of the breast, so that the baby does not swallow air during feeding and suffers less from colic.

The correct position of the child at the chest allows him not to turn his head and this is achieved in various positions convenient for the mother, both lying and sitting. The baby should be located according to the principle "belly to stomach", "eye to eye". With the right grip, the baby takes the nipple together with the areola into the mouth, the baby's lower lip is turned outward, and the chin, cheeks and nose fit snugly against the chest. The baby draws in the nipple and areola, and then, pressing on them with the tongue, squeezes out the milk and swallows it.

Breast and nipple care

Breast and nipple care involves, first of all, wearing special underwear (preferably made of natural soft breathable fabric), which supports the mammary glands well, thus preventing sagging breast tissues, and relieves additional stress on the thoracic spine, which inevitably arises due to displacement of the center of gravity as a result of a significant increase in the breast during lactation. It is recommended to change your bra every day.

To prevent the bra fabric from getting wet with milk involuntarily flowing from the breast, it is convenient to use special pads or milk receivers. It is necessary to change the pads at least once every 3 hours, and the milk receivers are processed according to the manufacturer's instructions.

As long as you keep your underwear clean and change your pads regularly, washing your breasts before each feed is not necessary. An ordinary hygienic shower, which is carried out once a day, is enough.

Establishing breastfeeding in the hospital

It is always necessary to take into account the specifics of the medical institution in which the young mother and child are located. In a situation with a separate stay, it is impossible to apply the principle of free breastfeeding in the maternity hospital, and in addition, it is likely that the child will be supplemented with formula in between “dates”. The postpartum departments of maternity hospitals that practice cohabitation have an undeniable advantage, which allows a woman to quickly and efficiently establish natural breastfeeding in the first days, as well as acquire the necessary skills to care for a baby. While in the hospital, it is advisable to find a common language with the medical staff and ask them not to supplement the baby with formula, which is especially important in a situation of separation. If, for medical reasons, the child is prescribed water supplementation, it is necessary to do this from a spoon in order to avoid the child getting used to the bottle. In case of forced separation from the baby for more than 24 hours, it is necessary to start pumping, as described above.

You can always get an answer to your questions and help in solving possible problems with breastfeeding in the first days. To do this, you need to contact your attending physician, a neonatologist who is observing the child, and if they are absent from the workplace (for example, in the evening), to the on-duty medical staff of the postpartum department. In addition, many modern maternity hospitals now employ specialists and consultants in breastfeeding.

The menu of a nursing mother in the first days after childbirth

What foods should make up the diet of a nursing mother in the first days after childbirth?

Dairy products - 600-800 g per day. Preference should be given to natural fresh kefir, fermented baked milk, yoghurts without additives and cottage cheese. Whole cow's milk in the amount of 200 ml per day is desirable to use for making cereals.
Meat products, of which low-fat varieties of beef and pork, rabbit meat, turkey, chicken are more suitable for the menu of a nursing mother - 200–250 g.
Cereals (all types), durum wheat pasta - 60 g (dry cereal).
Bread - 200 g.
Animal and vegetable oils (butter - 25 g, vegetable - 15 g).
Vegetables - 400 g and fruits - 300 g, except for highly allergenic ones.
From confectionery products in moderation, the use of dry cookies, crackers, marmalade is acceptable.
To replenish the fluid, in addition to ordinary drinking water, you can drink weak tea: black, green and herbal; compotes from fresh berries and dried fruits (with the exception of raisins), fruit drinks, still table mineral water.

Do breastfeeding mothers need to drink a lot?
The total amount of liquid drunk before the arrival of milk (during the first 3-5 days after childbirth) should be no more than 800 ml per day, otherwise it will be quite difficult to cope with the symptoms of hot flashes. When milk appeared, in parallel with the establishment of adequate emptying of the mammary gland, it is necessary to gradually increase the amount of fluid consumed up to 2–2.5 liters per day.

When pumping is needed

Ideally, milk is produced exactly as much as the baby needs. In this case, there is no need for pumping. However, when difficulties arise, pumping helps to solve a wide range of problems. It is necessary if:

the child, for health reasons or for other reasons, is temporarily separated from his mother. In this case, pumping imitates feeding, stimulates lactation and maintains it until the moment of meeting with the child;
when mother is separated
and a child in the maternity hospital, if the baby missed or "overslept" the next feeding, it is necessary to stimulate the breast by pumping for 10-15 minutes;
in case of excess milk production, when the breasts are full and become tight and painful, pumping helps to alleviate the condition of the woman and helps prevent mastitis. At the same time, the breast is decanted until a feeling of relief appears, and the mammary gland itself becomes soft.