Breast Feeding Issues

Breast Feeding Issues

Breast feeding highs and lows

Breast feeding - with its practical and emotional advantages, i.e. providing all the nourishment a baby needs, protection against infection, convenience, and bonding benefits - comes naturally to lots of mothers.

It is not, however, always straightforward and here we explore some of the most important issues.

Is there a secret to successful breast feeding?

Breast feeding is a learning process that starts as soon as baby is put to the breast. It’s something that comes with practice and some mothers need lots of patience and support to successfully breast feed.

Tip for mothers

Encourage mothers to relax and give themselves time to get it right – it can take weeks for a baby to establish a regular feeding pattern
Let their baby feed as often and for as long as they want without falling asleep at the breast – particularly in the first few days
Help them find a position for feeding that’s as comfortable as possible for both mother and baby
Positioning baby at the breast is very important in order to prevent nipple soreness. See section entitled ‘Latching on’. If you feel a mother may be unsure, you may want to give them further advice and reassurance
Encourage mothers to rest as much as possible and sleep when their baby does – the housework can wait!
Encourage them to eat and drink regularly, keeping meals healthy and simple
Fluids are very important. Encourage breastfeeding mums to drink at least 6-8 glasses of fluid a day and having a drink near to hand when breast feeding is also useful: water, milk and unsweetened fruit juices are good choices

Breast feeding when out and about

This is a very personal decision. Some mothers are very confident and happy to breast feed in public, others prefer to breast feed more privately. Whichever they are, breast feeding can be made easier by:

Making sure they have quick and easy access to their breasts by wearing clothing that buttons or zips down the front.
Having breast pads ready to avoid embarrassing signs of leakage.
Knowing where special mother and baby designated rooms are located.

Expressing breast milk

All mothers occasionally need a break, whether it’s an afternoon or evening off, or they need to go and do something that’s easier without their baby.

Expressing milk using a breast pump gives this flexibility, but before doing so they need to:

Sterilise all equipment used for expressing milk if baby is under 6 months
Make sure that their baby will take their breast milk from a bottle before leaving them
Make sure that the babysitter knows how to give their baby the bottle
Choose a babysitter who is familiar to their baby
Always store bottles of breast milk in the main body of the fridge and use within 24 hours
(expressed breast milk can also be frozen for up to 3 months in sterilised containers but must be frozen within 24 hours)

Feeding twins

Many twins are successfully breast fed and mothers should be reassured that they will provide enough milk for both. Twins can be fed separately or together and the correct positioning is key. For more information to help mothers, contact :

The Twins and Multiple Births Association on 0870 770 3305, or visit www.tamba.org.uk / www.imba.ie

Engorgement

Sometimes, in the first few weeks after birth, mothers produce more milk than their baby needs. This can result in uncomfortably heavy and tender breasts, lumps forming, redness, fever or flu-like symptoms.

Once breast feeding has been established, engorgement problems tend to disappear, but in the meantime it can help if mothers express a little milk before feeding their baby.

‘Latching on’ to the breast

It’s important to help mothers get their baby properly ‘latched’ on to the breast in the first weeks of breast feeding. If they don’t, their nipples can become very sore and cracked and many mothers give up.

To get this right, they need help in making sure that the baby is in the most comfortable position for feeding (see earlier) and that baby has taken in the nipple and as much of the areola as possible during feeding.

Carefully sliding a little finger into the side of the baby’s mouth to gently break the suction will also help avoid sore nipples at the end of the feed.

If there is a problem, you may wish to recommend appropriate creams or ointments.

Useful support

Other breast feeding support groups:

National Childbirth Trust (NCT),
Alexandra House, Oldham Terrace, London W3 6NH
Tel: 0870 4448 708
www.nct.org.uk

La Leche League
PO Box 29, West Bridgford, Nottingham NG2 7NP
24 hour helpline: 0845 456 1855
www.lalecheleague.org

Association of Breast Feeding Mothers,
PO Box 207, Bridgwater, Somerset TA6 7YT

IMPORTANT NOTICE: Breast feeding is best for babies. Infant milks are intended to replace breast milk when mothers do not breast feed. Good maternal nutrition is important for the preparation and maintenance of breast feeding. Introducing partial bottle feeding may have a negative effect on breast feeding and reversing a decision not to breast feed is difficult. You should always seek the advice of a doctor, midwife, health visitor, public health nurse, dietitian or pharmacist on the need for and proper method of use of infant milks and on all matters of infant feeding. Infant milk should always be prepared and used as directed. Unnecessary or improper use of infant milk may present a health hazard. Social and financial implications should be considered when selecting a method of infant feeding.

This information is intended for use only by residents of the UK and ROI