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Breastmilk is the natural food for newborns, it contains everything your baby needs. It's important to remember that you have the right to breastfeed anywhere, anytime.
Healthcare providers recommend that you feed your baby breast milk exclusively for the first six months. Your baby requires no other liquids during this time. After that, you can continue to breastfeed your baby for up to two years and beyond. Breastfeeding is very important for you, your baby, and your family. Not only is it free and therefore reduces costs for your family, it also promotes bonding between you and your baby.
For you, breastfeeding may control postpartum bleeding (the vaginal flow after your birth), help you lose the weight you gained in pregnancy more quickly, and slow down the return of your period. For your baby, breastfeeding protects them from many infections and illnesses, builds healthy eating habits, and promotes healthy jaw and brain development.
It is recommended that you feed your newborn based on their cues. This will likely be 8 or more times per 24 hours (day and night).
For some women breastfeeding comes easily, for others it may be a skill that takes practice and patience. It can take some babies extra time to latch properly. Life with a new baby in the first weeks is tiring. Breastfeeding hormones help you manage by enhancing the quality of your sleep. Having good support is really important. Most breastfeeding concerns can be resolved with support.
The links below have lots of information on breastfeeding, how your body prepares for breastfeeding, how your partner and family can support you, how to tell if your baby is getting enough milk, storing breast milk, helpful tips for getting a good latch and finding comfortable feeding positions, as well as information on taking medications and other drugs while breastfeeding.
| Preparing to Breastfeed |
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Breastfeeding is a natural and healthy way to feed your baby. It's also thrilling to realize that, even now, as your body changes in pregnancy, you are already making preparations to breastfeed. Your breast tissue is growing, your nipples may change colour and shape and the glands inside your breast begin to produce early milk for your baby. From only about half way through pregnancy, you may notice leaking or crusting of fluid on the tip of your nipple. If you have this (some women do, some don't), you can rub it in as it is an excellent moisturizer to keep your nipples supple in anticipation of your baby's sucking. You can talk to your care provider about your infant feeding plans to make the decision that is best for you. In the meantime, there is no need to do anything to toughen your nipples or prepare in other ways. Getting some early information and making preparations for support after your birth are the best things you can do to make your breastfeeding experience a satisfying and healthy experience. |
| Getting Started |
| Initiate breastfeeding as soon as possible after birth to provide your baby with colostrum, your first milk. Place you baby skin to skin often to provide warmth and comfort, to promote a good latch and to encourage your milk flow. |
| Getting a Good Latch |
How your baby's mouth connects to your breast to suck is called 'the latch'. A good latch means:
When your baby's latch is improper (sometimes called a 'poor' or 'bad' latch), sucking can be quite painful or feel like pinching on your nipple. Usually not enough of your nipple and areola are in your baby's mouth. Cracks or blisters can develop on your nipple and your baby may not receive as much milk. If a good latch is hard to obtain or it is painful, ask for help. Support of a lactation consultant or maternity care provider can often help you correct a latch and both make it more comfortable and improve how much breast milk your baby gets. See the information below on getting a good latch.
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| Making Sure Your Baby Gets Enough Milk |
| Most women have more than enough breastmilk for their baby, but it's common to be concerned about having enough. See the information below on how to know if your baby is getting enough milk. |
| Caring for Engorged Breasts and Sore Nipples |
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After giving birth the hormonal climate in your body changes and you will usually notice breast fullness at 2-4 days. This breast fullness usually subsides on it's own as long as your baby breastfeeds early and often. Excessive breast fullness is called engorgement. The breasts feel very heavy and uncomfortable, the skin feels tight and can look shiny, and the area around the nipple can be puffy making latching difficult for the baby. Delays in your baby breastfeeding, your baby not breastfeeding often enough or long enough, or your baby having trouble latching and removing the breastmilk from your breast make engorgement more likely. If you think that you have engorgement or that your baby is not breastfeeding well, be sure to seek help right away. See links below for more information on engorgement including tips on how to make yourself more comfortable and help your baby latch. Sore nipples can occur for a few reasons, including if your baby has a poor latch on your nipple. Sore nipples can be extremely painful but there are some things you can do that may help relieve the pain. See links below for more information on the causes of and treatments for sore nipples and engorgement as well as other information on breastfeeding.
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| Storing your Breast Milk |
| You may want to express and store your breast milk for when you are away from your baby or when you go back to work. It is important that you learn the safest way to store and prepare previously frozen or chilled breast milk for your baby. Check out the links below for more information on methods of expressing breast milk, how to keep it clean and label it, and considerations around preventing it from spoiling.
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| Breastfeeding Support |
| It's important to receive support while breastfeeding, especially if you run into issues or are having difficulty. The pages below provides links to agencies that may be able to help you, as well as information geared toward your partner so they can learn how to support your during this sometimes challenging time. |
| Medical Reasons for Supplementing |
| Sometimes breastfeeding is not possible or needs to be supported with extra feeds or alternative feeding methods. See the medical situations below for information on when alternatives to breastfeeding may be needed. |
| Drugs and Medications While Breastfeeding |
| It is important to be aware of which types of drugs and medications are safe to take while breastfeeding and which ones should be avoided. Check out the links below for more information and consult your healthcare provider if you have any questions or concerns. |