Breastfeeding! Getting Started
You just delivered your baby! No matter how long or short your labor was you are wide awake, alert and eager to hold your new baby. Your baby is also alert, active and ready to “meet the parents”. The first two hours after delivery is the best time to start breastfeeding. Your baby came from a warm cozy place where the temperature was perfect and they did not have to work for food. Birth brings a baby into a cold, bright, noisy world which must be very frightening. Your baby knows your voice and calms down when you speak to them. Babies don’t understand hunger, they suck for comfort and by breastfeeding within the first two hours after birth, you give your baby comfort while preventing numerous latch and suck problems.
You may feel you don’t have any milk because your breasts are not full. Upon delivery, your breasts contain small amounts of colostrum. Colostrum is the first milk, often called liquid gold. It is high in protein, low in sugar and fat making it easier for your baby to digest. Colostrum is rich in nutrients and immunities and helps prevent bacteria which causes illnesses. Colostrum also acts as a laxative and helps your baby pass their first stool called meconium. Meconium contains large amounts of bilirubin which causes jaundice.
Feed your baby every one to three hours for ten to thirty minutes a breast to complete a feeding. Follow you baby’s cues such as smacking lips, sucking on fists, flexing arms and legs…this is called frequent, unrestricted breastfeeding.
Frequent, unrestricted breastfeeding gives the baby practice at nursing before your breasts become full, stimulates the milk to increase more quickly, and prevents breast engorgement.
Breastfeeding your baby frequently, starting right after delivery, prevents latch problems, jaundice, engorgement and encourages you milk to increase faster.