- Lactation Consulting
- Parenting Classes
- Alternative Women's Health
Breast Feeding 101
Breast Feeding
When it comes to getting babies off to a healthy start, experts agree that "breast is best." Human breast milk contains all the nutrients babies need each day, plus many substances that help them grow and develop properly physically and emotionally.
Breastfeeding doesn't always come "naturally” in fact it is a dance and sometimes you need someone to teach you the steps. That's where lactation counseling comes in. Our midwives provide new moms with the information and help they need to make breastfeeding a happy and successful experience for both mother and child.
Our services include:
- Breastfeeding Classes and support groups meeting monthly to share and discuss issues of interest.
- Lactation specialist consultations, assessments and care plans.
- “In Home” lactation consultations
- Assessment and counseling during a hospital stay.
- A nursing mothers' support group that meets monthly to share and discuss issues of interest Lactation consulting specializing in difficult cases.
- Breast pump rentals and essentials.
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Breast Health - Anatomy of Breasts
Each breast has 15 to 20 sections, called lobes, that are arranged like the petals of a daisy. Each lobe has many smaller lobules, which end in dozens of tiny bulbs that can produce milk. The lobes, lobules, and bulbs are all linked by thin tubes called ducts. These ducts lead to the nipple in the center of a dark area of skin called the areola. Fat fills the spaces between lobules and ducts. There are no muscles in the breast, but muscles lie under each breast and cover the ribs. Each breast also contains blood vessels and vessels that carry lymph. The lymph vessels lead to small bean-shaped organs called lymph nodes, clusters of which are found under the arm, above the collarbone, and in the chest, as well as in many other parts of the body.
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Proper Latch-on
Your baby has and instinct to find your nipple and latch on. Allowing your baby to take the lead with your support latching on is usually not a problem. Here are a few basics when assisting your baby. When latching the baby on, support your breast with your hand. By forming a “C” with your hand, you can hold the breast and nipple in position as your baby tries to bob to your breast. Some women find it helpful to gently massage the breast to stimulate let-down at the start of the feeding. Correct latch-on is very important to prevent nipple soreness. The baby's mouth should be open wide. Infants have a primitive reflex called the rooting reflex which causes the infant to open her mouth wide and "search" for a nipple. This reflex can be stimulated by gently touching the baby's cheek with your finger or nipple. Her lower lip also needs to be turned outward resting on her chin, her upper lip relaxed and not turned in, and her tongue visible over her bottom gum. Your nipple and most if not all of your areola should be in the baby's mouth this of course varies. Her cheeks should be plump without dimples and you should hear quiet swallowing, not smacking sounds. How does your infant get the milk?
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Proper Positioning
To get a proper latch you need to have your baby positioned at breast properly.
The rule-of-thumb no matter what position you choose to nurse
you should have the babies ear, shoulder, and hips all in alignment
— this will ensure the baby is at the breast symmetrically
thus avoiding uneven suckling of the nipple.
Breast Feeding
Pregnancy, childbirth and breastfeeding are a special time in our lives. Breastfeeding your baby is simply one of the most valuable gifts a mother can give her baby. It means the difference between health and disease. What better way to provide the best nourishment available to your child. Breastfeeding promotes physical and emotional well being for the baby, today and in the future. Providing the breastfeeding mother with encouragement and support is of great importance. Encouragement and support helps the mother and child in particularly during the first few weeks after birth and allows them to continue nursing for months or even years. Breastfeeding also provides a whole host of other benefits to the mother and child. Pregnancy is not 9 months it is 18 months. 9 months to grow a baby and 9 months to get back to pre-pregnancy. We call it the second pregnancy. Like a kangaroo, human infants are underdeveloped when born and go from the womb straight to the nipple to finish it’s development. Kangaroos use pouches, women historically through the ages use slings.
Benefits for Mother:
- Breastfeeding releases hormones necessary to help your uterus returns to its non pregnant size rapidly each time you nurse.
- The hormone prolactin is release helping mother to deal with challenges of new mothering with a sedative and relaxation effect.
- Convenient. The breast milk is always there, needs no preparation, is always clean and at the proper temperature and is specific to your babies needs.
- Reduces the risk of developing breast cancer
- Inexpensive.
- Emotional satisfaction. Breastfeeding facilitates the bonding relationship between mother and child through intimate physical contact.
Benefits for Babies:
- Easy digestibility with less digestive upsets. Breast milk is used rapidly and efficiently by babies.
- Protection from many diseases. This is especially important if the babies are premature and/or are very small.
- Protection from allergies.
- Optimum nutrition. Breast milk contains all the nutrients necessary for infants and in the exact amounts and proportions. It is living food with antioxidants, antibodies friendly flora and bacteria colonization. Artificial baby milk is dead food with mostly sugars and milk or soy fats.
- Increased IQ and language development
- Enhanced dental development.
- Special closeness with mother.
Latching on
Sit back comfortably and place your baby between your breast skin to skin. Your baby will begin to bob and twist herself into position at the breast and latches on. Use pillow behind your back or under your arms to help you support the baby so once baby is latched they will be available to adjust if needed. Place the baby's head in crook of your elbow and hold the baby at level of breast. Baby's face and body are turned toward mother. The baby's ear, shoulder and hip should be in a straight line. You can support your baby by cupping you breast with your free hand and make the nipple available to the baby by placing the nipple at the level of her nose so she can smell it and open her mouth wide for it. Make sure that a large part of areola is drawn in and centered in his mouth.
How often and how long should I nurse the baby?
Baby needs to nurse 10-14 times in a 24 hours period. The more you nurse the more milk you will have. Watch your baby not the clock because babies should be fed according to their individual needs, not according to some schedule. Watch your baby and let him nurse as long as he shows interest (sucking eagerly, swallowing often). When baby lose interest that is when you can switch him over to the other breast.
What other position can I use to nurse the baby?
Lying down to nurse
Lye down on your side and use pillows to support yourself and the baby. Baby should be lying on his side facing you with his nose in line with your nipple and his knees pulled in close to your body. Support you baby with your arm. Offer the breast to the baby. This is a great position to use for nighttime nursing.
Football hold
Remember to use pillow to support you and your baby. Place the baby with his head resting in your hand and his legs under your arm. When you pull the baby close to latch on make sure his legs are not pushing up against the back of the bed or chair you are sitting in. The football hold is help full for mothers if baby is having trouble latching on because it give mother good visibility and good control of baby's position as he latches on.
What is nipple confusion?
This is when a baby is given a bottle before nursing at the breast is established and is confused because getting milk from a bottle is much different from getting milk from the breast. A baby has to work at the breast using its tongue and jaws to draw out milk mouthful at a time at the babies timing and flow. With a bottle the baby a constant flow of milk with pours into the baby’s mouth and this forces the baby to put it’s tongue in the back of the throat to avoid choking on the milk and places the jaw line back also. On the breast the tongue and jaw need to be forward for proper latch. With bottles babies have to swallows quickly which allows air to be swallowed and tummy aches result.
How do I know my baby is getting enough to eat?
After the milk comes in the baby should have 6-8 wet cloth diapers or 5-6 disposable diapers in a day. He should also have 3-5 bowel movements per day. Other things to check, is he eating every 2-3 hours? Is he filling out, active and alert? These are all signs that you baby is getting enough to eat. Remember most babies lose some weight during the first week but get back to birth weight within 2-3 weeks after birth
I need help with breastfeeding who can I get help from?
We are fortunate to have specially trained and skilled lactation consultants and monthly support groups. Celesta has had specialized training for more difficult cases. Our services are covered by most health insurance companies.
La Leche League International has local support groups that hold monthly meetings in most parts of the United States and they encourage mothers to begin attending meetings while they are still pregnant. La Leche League is a volunteer organization that has provided mother-to-mother help for more than 45 years. Every La Leche League leader has breastfed at least one child and she has access to a considerable network of breastfeeding research and knowledge.
