Breastfeeding

Breastfeeding is not always easy. There are physical and emotional factors that can foil the first attempts at breastfeeding, and new mothers should reach out to all of the support systems available to them, e.g., La Leche League, lactation specialists in hospitals and clinics, and female friends and family members.

Why Choose To Breastfeed?

''There are 4,000 species of mammals, and they all make a different milk. Human milk is made for human infants and it meets all their specific nutrient needs,'' says Ruth Lawrence, M.D., professor of pediatrics and obstetrics at the University of Rochester School of Medicine in Rochester, N.Y., and spokeswoman for the American Academy of Pediatrics. The academy recommends that babies be breast-fed for 6 to 12 months.

Also, increased breastfeeding rates would save consumers money, spent both on infant formula and health care costs. The primary benefit of breast milk is nutrition. Human milk contains just the right amount of fatty acids, lactose, water, and amino acids that are good for human digestion, brain development, and growth. Breast-fed babies have fewer illnesses because human milk transfers to the infant a mother's antibodies to disease such as German Measles, influenza, pneumonia, botulism, and ear infections. Mothers produce antibodies to whatever disease is in their environment, thus making their milk custom-designed for their baby. Breastfeeding has a plus side for mommy, too. There are no bottles to sterilize and no formula to buy. It may be easier for nursing mothers to drop the pounds of pregnancy as well, since nursing uses extra calories. Lactation also stimulates the uterus to contract back to its original size.

While breastfeeding seems like a good choice, it is still a personal one. It is a choice that can be influenced by many factors including the inability to lactate, lifestyle, and other obligations. In some cases the infant does not latch on to the breast and therefore makes the decision for the mom.

What Is Important to Know

1. Begin breastfeeding as soon as possible after birth.

2. Discuss with your Health Care Provider breastfeeding options.

3. Try to avoid allowing your child to sleep through feedings.

4. Be patient with a newborn. If labor was difficult for you, it was for them.

5. Ask for assistance when it comes to breastfeeding.

6. Despite the frustrations of nursing, try to stay relaxed.

Breastfeeding 101

1. Find a comfortable position.

2. Position your baby facing your nipple.

3. Support your breast with your free hand with your thumb on top and your fingers beneath. Keep your fingers off the areola, which your baby has to grasp.

4. Gently tickle the baby's lips with your nipple until the mouth is opened wide, then move your breast closer.

5. Let your baby take the initiative.

6. Be certain the baby latches on to both the nipple and the areola. Sucking on just the nipple won't compress the milk glands and can cause soreness and cracking. Also be sure that it is the nipple that the baby is busily milking. Some infants are so eager to suck that they will latch on to any part of the breast (even if no milk is forthcoming), and this gumming of sensitive tissue can cause a painful bruise.

7. If your breast is blocking your baby's nose, lightly compress the breast with your finger, but be sure not to pull loose your baby's grip on the areola.

8. You can assure yourself that your baby is suckling if there is a strong, steady, rhythmic motion visible in his or her cheek.

9. If your baby has finished suckling but is still holding on to the breast, pulling it out abruptly can cause injury to the nipple. Instead, break the suction first by compressing the breast or by putting your finger into the corner of the baby's mouth to admit some air.