How to breastfeed

Breastfeeding has benefits for the mother and the baby and should be encouraged by everyone in the family, being the best option for feeding the baby from birth to at least 6 months of life, although it is prolonged until 2 years old of age or even when the baby and the mother want.

However, women are not born knowing how to breastfeed and it is common for doubts and problems to arise during this phase, and it is therefore important that the pediatrician can clarify all doubts and support the woman throughout breastfeeding. Learn how to solve common breastfeeding problems.

In order to breastfeed properly there are certain steps that the mother must follow whenever breastfeeding the baby. Are they:

Step 1: Realize that the baby is hungry

For the mother to realize that the baby is hungry, she must be aware of some signs, such as:

• The baby tries to grab any object that touches the mouth area. So if the mother puts her finger near the baby's mouth he should turn his face and try to put his finger in his mouth whenever he is hungry; the baby looks for the nipple; the baby sucks his fingers and keeps his hand in his mouth; The baby is restless or cries and his cry is loud and loud.

Despite these signs, there are babies who are so calm that they wait to be fed. Therefore, it is important not to leave the baby without eating for more than 3-4 hours, placing it on the breast even if he does not show these signs. Breastfeeding should be done within this interval during the day, but if the baby is gaining adequate weight, it will not be necessary to wake him up every 3 hours to breastfeed at night. In this case, the mother can breastfeed only once during the night until the baby is 7 months old.

Step 2: Adopt a comfortable position

Before placing the baby on the breast, the mother should adopt a comfortable position. The environment should be calm, preferably without noise, and the mother should keep her back straight and support her well to avoid back and neck pain. However, the positions that the mother can take to breastfeed can be:

• Lying on your side, with the baby also lying on its side, facing you; Sitting in a chair with your back straight and supported, holding the baby with both arms or with the baby under one arm or with the baby sitting in one of your legs; standing, keeping your back straight.

Whatever the position, the baby must have the body facing the mother and the mouth and nose at the same height as the breast. Know the best positions to breastfeed your baby at each stage.

Step 3: Place the baby on the chest

After being in a comfortable position the mother should position the baby to breastfeed and must first be very careful when positioning the baby. First, the woman should touch the nipple to the baby's upper lip or nose, causing the baby to open its mouth wide. Then, move the baby so that it will snap the breast when the mouth is wide open.

In the first days after delivery, the baby should be offered 2 breasts, with about 10 to 15 minutes each to stimulate milk production.

After the milk has dropped, around the 3rd day after birth, the baby should be allowed to breastfeed until the breast is empty and only afterwards offer the other breast. At the next feed, the baby should start with the last breast. The mother may attach a pin or a bow to the blouse on the side that the baby will have to breastfeed first at the next breastfeeding so as not to forget. This care is important because normally the second breast is not as empty as the first, and the fact that it does not completely empty can decrease the milk production in this breast.

In addition, the mother must alternate the breasts because the composition of the milk changes during each feeding. At the beginning of the feeding, the milk is richer in water and at the end of each feeding it is richer in fat, which favors the baby's weight gain. So if the baby is not gaining enough weight, it is possible that he is not getting that part of the milk. See how to increase breast milk production.

Step 4: Observe if the baby is breastfeeding well

To realize that the baby is able to breastfeed properly, the mother must note that:

• The baby's chin touches the breast and the baby's nose is more free to breathe; The baby's belly touches the mother's belly; The baby's mouth is wide open and the lower lip should be turned out, like that of the minnows; The baby takes part or all of the areola of the breast and not just the nipple; The baby is calm and you can hear the noise of him swallowing the milk.

The way the baby takes the breast during breastfeeding directly influences the amount of milk the baby drinks and, consequently, promotes his weight gain, in addition to also influencing the appearance of cracks in the mother's nipples, which causes pain and clogging the duct, resulting in a lot of discomfort during feedings. Nipple cracks are one of the main factors in abandoning breastfeeding.

Step 5: Identify if the baby has breastfed enough

To identify if the baby has breastfed enough, the woman should check to see if the breast that the baby breastfed is more empty, slightly softer than before she started breastfeeding and can press near the nipple to check if there is still milk. If the milk does not come out in large quantities, with only small drops remaining, this indicates that the baby suckled well and was able to empty the breast.

Other signs that may indicate that the baby is satisfied and with a full tummy are the slowest suction at the end of the feeding, when the baby spontaneously releases the breast and when the baby is more relaxed or sleeps on the breast. However, the fact that the baby falls asleep does not always mean that he has breastfed enough, as there are babies who are drowsy during feeding. Therefore, it is important for the mother to check whether the baby has emptied the breast or not.

Step 6: How to remove the baby from the breast

To remove the baby from the breast, without running the risk of hurting the mother, she should place her little finger in the corner of the baby's mouth while he is still breastfeeding so that he can release the nipple and then remove the baby from the breast.

After the baby suckles, it is very important to put him to burp so that he can eliminate the air he swallowed during the feeding and not to golf. For this, the mother can place the baby on her lap, in an upright position, leaning on her shoulder and pat the back gently. It can be useful to put a diaper on your shoulder to protect your clothes because it is common for a little milk to come out when the baby burps.

Breastfeeding times

As for breastfeeding times, the ideal is that it is done on demand, that is, whenever the baby wants. Initially, the baby may need to breastfeed every 1h 30 or 2h during the day and every 3 to 4 hours at night. Gradually your gastric capacity will increase and it will be possible to hold a larger amount of milk, increasing the time between feedings.

There is a general consensus that the baby should not spend more than 3 hours without breastfeeding, even at night, until the age of 6 months. It is recommended that if he is asleep the mother wake him up to breastfeed and make sure that he really did, as some sleep during breastfeeding.

After 6 months of age, the baby will be able to eat other foods and be able to sleep through the night. But each baby has its own growth rate and it is up to the mother to decide whether to breastfeed at dawn or not.

When to stop breastfeeding

Knowing when to stop breastfeeding is a common question for virtually all mothers. The World Health Organization recommends that breastfeeding should be exclusive until the baby is 6 months old and that it should last at least until the age of 2 years. The mother can stop breastfeeding from this date or wait for the baby to decide not to want to breastfeed anymore.

From the age of 6 months, milk no longer provides the amount of sufficient energy that the baby needs to develop and it is at this stage that new foods are introduced. By the age of 2, in addition to the baby already eating practically everything that an adult eats, he will also be able to find comfort in situations other than the mother's breast, which for him initially represents a safe haven.

Also learn how to maintain breastfeeding after returning to work.

Important precautions

The woman should have some care during breastfeeding and healthy lifestyle habits, such as:

• Eat properly, avoiding spicy foods to avoid interfering with the taste of milk. See what the mother's diet should be like during pregnancy; Avoid alcohol consumption, as it can pass to the baby damaging your renal system; No smoking; Do moderate exercise; Wear comfortable clothes and bras that do not tighten the breasts; Avoid taking medicines.

If the woman becomes ill and has to take some kind of medication, she should ask the doctor if she can continue breastfeeding, as there are several medications that are secreted in the milk and can harm the baby's development. During this phase, you can go to the human milk bank, offer your own breast milk if the woman has frozen some quantity or, as a last resort, offer powdered milk adapted for babies, such as Nestogeno and Nan, for example. example.