| As your pediatricians, we are delighted that you have chosen to nurse your baby. This is the time-tested and long honored method of feeding infants. Fortunately, the milk is just right and of good quality. It never varies in quality if the mother is eating an adequately balanced diet and it is always the correct temperature. Also, recent studies show that breast feeding provides an added protection for the baby against infections.
Nursing completely accomplishes not only your baby’s satisfaction of appetite, but also the strong desire of sucking. Nursing should be a relaxing situation. Both infant and mother should enjoy the event completely. The mother should feel quite secure that she can nurse. It should be emphasized that nursing is possible except in the case of extreme disease in the mother. A positive attitude and a calm environment will make nursing more successful.
You can nurse either sitting up or laying down, whichever is more comfortable and relaxing. When the baby nurses, he/she should draw the nipple and all or much of the areola (the dark area around the nipple) into the mouth. Babies milk the breast by the squeezing action of the gums on the milk sinuses found beneath the areola.
If your breasts become too full or swollen, it may be hard for your baby to nurse. Hand expressing some milk by squeezing the areola between your thumb and forefinger may help remedy this.
The baby should be allowed to nurse at both breasts at each feeding. You should alternate the breast on which you start nursing. This is important, since the breast will provide the level that will satisfy your baby until the next feeding.
We advise allowing the baby to nurse 8-10 minutes on the first side and as long as 15-20 minutes on the second side. The interval between feeding is best determined by the baby. Let us know if your baby wants to nurse more often than every 2 hours.
Since breast milk is more digestible than cow’s milk, a nursing baby may demand more frequent feedings, i.e., every two or three hours in the first few weeks. When your milk is ‘coming in’ (anywhere from 3-5 days after delivery), your breasts may become uncomfortable. This is a temporary phenomenon.'
When you feel too full, you can either nurse the baby or manually express some milk.
It is not necessary to wash your breasts before each feeding. Clean clothes and a daily plain water cleansing will suffice. The breasts have a natural secretion to keep the nipples soft and germ-free. Soap and other drying agents may lead to cracked nipples.
Some mothers feel that if they are on medication, it is not possible to nurse. Always check with us about any medication you take before stopping nursing. In most cases, nursing may continue.
Learning the art of breast feeding takes time, patience and support. Remain optimistic – if you have questions, feel free to contact us. Once the art is mastered, you will find breast feeding very rewarding. There are books available on nursing – if interested, ask us for sources.
In keeping with the recommendations of the Academy of Pediatrics, we encourage you to continue to nurse your infant for as long as possible. If you decide to discontinue nursing before one year of age, it is suggested that your baby be given an iron-fortified formula such as Similac® Advance®.
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