Truly Happy Baby ... It Worked for Me: A practical parenting guide from a mum you can trust. Holly Willoughby
too tired or overwhelmed by the breastfeeding schedule.
If you’ve reached this point and are feeling dreadful about it, ask yourself how many people you know who weren’t breastfed. Do you think it’s had a detrimental effect on their lives? The answer is likely to be … NO! So why do we put so much pressure on ourselves? A contented baby and equally contented mummy is the most important thing, so be at peace!
HOW TO: BREASTFEED
Getting it ‘right’ …
It amazes me how newborns put onto the breast immediately try to latch on. It’s as if they know more than you and are saying, ‘Come on, Mum! I know how to do this!’ Did you know that your newborn just happens to be able to see as far as the distance from your nipple to your nose, so as she is feeding your face is the clearest thing to her? And that your nipples are expanded and darkened during early motherhood so that your baby can find them easily? Mother Nature really does think of everything!
To be able to feed your baby is a special bond, but there are plenty of other opportunities to bond – don’t worry!
But, remember, no two babies are the same. You might be a milking machine for your first baby and then a complete novice with the second. Or you and your baby just might never meet in the middle. The bottom line with breastfeeding is if your baby is happy and gaining weight, you’re doing it right.
To begin with, there are many things to try: where and what time to breastfeed, how to position yourself and the baby, how the baby latches on. You may be told that if you’re doing it properly, breastfeeding won’t hurt. Rubbish! A good friend of mine is a maternity and breastfeeding expert. Now she has her own children she feels insanely guilty that she told so many mums that it shouldn’t hurt. It wasn’t until she attempted to put all her advice into practice that she realised she didn’t have the answers after all! Unfortunately it’s always likely to hurt for the first couple of weeks, but once you’ve got the hang of it, it should get easier. If it doesn’t, seek advice and help from your health visitor, midwife or GP. I’ve also covered breastfeeding issues and resolutions in the last section of this chapter (see pages here).
Getting your baby to ‘latch’ …
Just as every baby is different, every latch is different, but here are some pointers to help you. If your baby keeps coming off the breast or she is uncomfortable, simply try putting her on again. It does take practice.
Positioning Make sure you are comfortable (see here) and that your baby’s mouth is level with your nipple. She should be close enough to reach the nipple without straining for it, with her head and body in a straight line.
Latching To encourage your baby to open her mouth nice and wide, touch your nipple to her lips and mouth so that she can taste the milk. Then as soon as she opens her mouth, move your baby’s head up and over the nipple, pushing as much of the areola in as possible. Free the bottom lip if it gets dragged in slightly to perfect the seal around the breast. The tip of the nipple should be deep inside her mouth or those strong little gums will hurt it. Don’t worry about your baby not being able to breathe whilst feeding. As long as you’re gently supporting her neck and shoulders and not clamping her head against your breast, she will pull away if she needs to. A good latch will mean your baby is positioned really closely against your breast.
Shaping Us mummies are all different shapes and sizes and babies only have little mouths, so you may have to forge out the perfect mouthful. To do this, hold your breast from underneath and use your thumb and fingers like pincers either side to squeeze the nipple and areola into a shape that’s easier for your baby to take.
Checking the latch If your baby is latched on correctly, after a few rapid sucks she should revert to slow, rhythmic sucking, which you can watch with great satisfaction if you look at her neck as she gulps the milk down.
Seeking help Once you get the latch right, you’ll never look back. If you are struggling, seek help from your health visitor or a breastfeeding organisation. Like I said before, breastfeeding is an art – sadly, so many women give up in those early months due to lack of advice.
Breastfeeding positions to try …
First, make sure you have plenty of cushions around you for comfort and support. Feeding can take a while, especially in these early days, so it’s important you have everything you need to hand.
Try to get your baby to empty one breast before offering the second. When she is really small, she probably won’t take the second, but if you’ve stuck to one breast, you can be more sure your baby has completed the milk cycle and taken all the nutrients she needs out of a feed. For the first few minutes on the breast your baby suckles foremilk, which is the thinner, thirst-quenching stuff, before she is hit with the fattier, richer hindmilk.
Cradle hold
This is the classic breastfeeding image of a baby suckling at the breast. It’s great if you can make it work as it’s a relaxed and comfortable position for both of you that you can do anywhere without needing too many props! Just make sure you have a pillow under the arm the baby’s head is resting on.
I used the cradle hold with Chester, and when we were struggling to feed I was advised to sit in an upright chair, place my feet on a footstool and use a breastfeeding U-shaped pillow to support him. Apparently it’s the optimum feeding position and it definitely eased the strain on my back in those difficult days.
Cross cradle hold
This is similar to the cradle hold but the baby’s head is supported by your hand rather than in the crook of your arm. It helps if you place a pillow across your lap.
Rugby ball hold
This position is particularly good for feeding twins and for breastfeeding after a Caesarean as the baby doesn’t rest on your wound.
Lying down on your side
Lay your baby on the bed flat on the mattress and you do the same, positioning your nipple level with her mouth. You might have to lean in slightly. This is a relaxing position for both of you.
Laidback hold
Lay your baby on her tummy vertically along your body. Make sure she’s properly latched on so she doesn’t drag on the nipple.
Expressing breast milk …
Expressing milk means extracting breast milk by hand or using a pump. The milk can be kept for a feed, so anyone can give it, not just you! Regular expressing is a great way to help establish your milk supply. Other good reasons to express:
• It frees you up to have a well-earned snooze.
• You might be struggling with feeding your baby directly from the breast, but still want to give her breast milk (and keep your supply up).
• Your baby might not be emptying the breast fully, so you need to express off the rest.
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