How do I start breastfeeding?

Since beginning my work in supporting families, I have seen new parents completely overwhelmed once their baby arrives. I’ve witnessed their distress interfering with the bonding that needs to take place for a smooth transition into parenthood and breastfeeding. So many new parents are informed about the birth, but that’s where it ends.

The following 5 steps offers the knowledge that new parents need to begin their breastfeeding journey with confidence. Let go of the worry and fear of breastfeeding with these actionable steps:

1- Rest!

You have just grown and birthed your baby!

Now, your job is to rest, spend some time being horizontal, while caring for, bonding with and feeding your baby. Plan very little for 2 weeks so that you can be resting with your baby. Allowing your body to rest and recover from pregnancy and the birth, without overwhelm, will encourage the natural cascade of lactation hormones to kick in and start this amazing experience. Stress can have a negative effect on lactation and your milk coming in readily.

Quick tips:

• Try napping at least once per day while the baby naps near you. Newborns will need you around the clock so it only makes sense to catch some z’s when they are sleeping.
• Keep a water bottle and healthy non-perishable snack by your side so that you do not have to get up too often in those first few days. Snack ideas can include trail mix, whole grain crackers, low sugar granola bars.
• Have your favorite books, movies and phone handy to enjoy some entertainment or talk to a friend while in bed relaxing.
• Enjoy the quiet moments with your new baby. Sing and talk to them as the sound of your voice helps them feel secure and comfortable.

2- Have your supports ready to help!

Many new parents do not make this step a priority. I know I didn’t with my first! Ask your partner or closest supports to help with burping, changing diapers, cooking meals, preparing snacks, making tea and snuggle baby when you need a break. Remember what your job is for the first 2 weeks? see #1

Start feeling comfortable with asking for help and ‘managing’ your supports. They want to help but sometimes don’t know how or what to do. Let them know where you need the assistance and they will be happy to comply.

3- Skin to skin

Having your baby skin to skin with you immediately after the birth so they can find the breast and latch not only amazes watchful parents but is also pivotal in eliciting early breastfeeding behaviours in the newborn and lactation hormones in the breastfeeding parent. But it doesn’t stop there! Skin to skin is recommended as often as possible in the first weeks of a newborn’s life to continue promoting breastfeeding and bonding.

To get skin to skin:

• The parent is bare from the waist up and your newborn naked or diapered.
• The parent is reclined.
• The baby is placed on the parent, tummy to tummy with their head to the side and their nose clear for breathing.
• If you feel like you need to assist your baby with their first latch, you can encourage them by supporting their body, head and neck and shaping your breast to facilitate the latch.
• Avoid placing firm pressure to the back of the head/neck though. They just went through labour also, so there may be some tender spots.

4- Full and continued access to the breast.

While your newborn is getting used to the outside world and learning how to feed, it is important to allow them access to the breast frequently. A newborn’s stomach starts out as the size of a marble so it goes without saying that they require frequent feeds. Allowing your newborn to feed on cue will assist them in getting their weight up, help to prevent jaundice with lots of dirty and wet diapers, and stimulate your own milk supply.

To do this:

• Be skin to skin daily for the first 2 weeks for at least for a few hours.
• Carry your baby in a newborn sized wrap or carrier if you need to move around or hold and rock your baby.
• Partners and closest supports can do all these also when you need a break.
• Watch for baby’s feeding cues. These can happen even in their sleep. (Rooting, Stretching,Sticking their tongue out) ***Do not wait until they cry. This is the last cue.

5- Avoid bottles in the early days if you can. Be sure to drain your breasts frequently.

If extra supplementing is required, try hand expressing your colostrum or pumping your breast milk and learn how to cup feed or spoon feed it to your baby. The nursing staff at the hospital is great at showing new parents how to do this.

If your baby is being supplemented with formula, it is necessary to stimulate and drain your breasts of milk with hand expressing and/or pumping. Frequent stimulation with expressing or with the pump and draining your breasts will help to increase your supply later on as you are supplementing your baby in the early days. Omitting this step can adversely affect your future supply. Regular draining of your breasts is very important throughout your breastfeeding journey but crucial at the beginning.

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Mélanie Jacobson ND IBCLC is a Toronto-based Naturopathic Doctor and Lactation Consultant. She focuses on breastfeeding education, and supporting families with breastfeeding, bottle feeding, combo feeding as well as solid food introduction. She is available for home, clinic and virtual visits. You can book your free 15 min meet and greet consultation right here to discuss her services and approach.