In my last post on breastfeeding I talked about the early days of breastfeeding. I left off on the topic of ENGORGEMENT; the wonderfully painful experience you will have when your milk comes in!
As I mentioned in my last post, your milk will come in 2-4 days postpartum. This can be a very painful 24-48 hours, but push through because, just like labor, the pain of engorgement won't last and the reward is huge!
Engorgement is best described as a period of time in which your breasts feel very full and tender and your nipples are very sensitive. If fact, when you baby latches on, it will literally make your toes curl and you will want to scream. Don't worry, this sensation does go away after a few minutes of nursing! The absolute best treatment for engorgement is to nurse. Letting your nipples air dry and applying a nipple cream after nursing will also help. There are many old wives tales regarding things you can do to relieve engorgement, but nursing every 2-3 hours is the best and recommended solution. (It is actually the case that hot packs, warm showers and many other suggested treatments actually make engorgement worse rather than better.) I can't stress enough how important it is to make sure you are feeding baby frequently during this time. Milk production works by supply and demand and if you are not feeding baby (or pumping) every 2-3 hours during this time, your body will not produce enough milk.
During this time, your areola may be hard which makes it difficult for baby to latch on properly. If baby does not latch on properly, you will end up with traumatized nipples. If you need to express a little milk to soften the areola before feeding to make latching on easier for baby, do so! If you are experiencing pain in your nipples after the first few minutes of nursing and/or are experiencing any kind of pain in your breasts make sure you consult your doctor because there are a number of things that could be wrong (plugged milk ducts, breast infection).
Make sure you buy some breast pads before you deliver. Chances are pretty good that you are going to need them although some lucky women never d0. I used them day and night for the first few months. I was eventually able to stop using them because I no longer leaked during the day. I still occasionally leak at night, but not often enough to wear breast pads to bed. There have been nights when I have woken up and had to change my shirt, but that usually corresponded with times when my daughter went longer than normal between feedings.
I would love to be able to tell you that you are in the clear after the engorgement period is over, but that most likely will not be the case. Breastfeeding is hard work and it requires dedication on your part. I had been breastfeeding for 4 months or so before my body and daughter finally "figured it out". Mind you, I have never experienced anything like the pain of engorgement and things have definitely gotten MUCH easier, but there have still been a few bumps in the road which I will talk about in my next post.
Showing posts with label engorged. Show all posts
Showing posts with label engorged. Show all posts
Sunday, June 13, 2010
Saturday, May 29, 2010
The Early Days of Breastfeeding
There a several myths out there regarding things you can do to get your nipples ready for breastfeeding. Myths are exactly what they are. There is nothing you can or need to do to get your nipples ready for breastfeeding. The only recommended steps are:
1) Wear a supportive bra (nursing or otherwise) without underwire. Bras with underwire have been known to lead to plugged milk ducts and breast infections. I personally found any bra with underwire to be very uncomfortable in the last months of pregnancy anyway and could not imagine having worn one in the early weeks of breastfeeding. I found cotton nursing bras without any bells and whistles to be the most comfortable. As I mentioned in an earlier post, you may want to buy at least one nursing bra ahead of time. It is generally safe to buy one towards the end of your pregnancy because your breast size will not significantly change any more. You will eventually need more than one, but you can hold off buying more until you decided which ones you like.
2) Avoid washing your nipples with soap when you are in the shower as this can dry them out.
That's it! There isn't anything else you can/should do.
One of the most important things you can do to get ready for breastfeeding is educate yourself about what to expect and what is normal and abnormal. The more educated you are, the more enjoyable your breastfeeding experience will be. I highly recommend the book The Nursing Mother's Companion by Kathleen Huggins.
It is also a good idea to attend a prenatal breastfeeding class. I did a lot of reading beforehand so I didn't really learn anything new from the class, but they provide you will a ton of resources in your community that you can access of you have any questions or problems.
Breastfeeding can be one the most amazing experiences of your life. The bond that it creates between you and your baby is incredibly rewarding. I have had a wonderful experience and absolutely love it. That being said, breastfeeding is by no means easy and it requires a huge commitment on your part.
The first few days are particularly hard. Initially, just getting baby to latch on properly is a big challenge. Although babies are born with the rooting reflex, both you and your baby have to learn how to breastfeed. The nurses in the hospital should help you with this because it is really difficult to manage holding your newborn baby and getting him or her to latch on to your nipple all at the same time (I would recommend a Boppy pillow). Don't get frustrated because after only a few nursing, things start to get easier.
As a side note, make sure you let the nurses know that you want to breastfeed for the first time as soon as possible after giving birth. Infants are usually incredibly eager to suck within the first two hours after birth and this is a perfect time to get the learning ball rolling. Studies have shown that the longer you wait, the less successful breastfeeding will be. Also be sure to avoid giving your baby a pacifier in the early days of nursing. This can lead to all kinds of nursing problems such as latching problems and early weaning and ear infections down the road (more on pacifier use later).
Until your milk comes in (generally 3-4 days postpartum), your baby will be drinking colostrum. This is thick and yellow and it is the most important substance you will ever feed your baby. It provides your newborn with all kinds of antibodies, prevents bacteria from entering baby's intestines, stimulates baby's bowels and can reduce jaundice just to name a few of the benefits. It may not seem like your newborn is eating very much, but know that a newborn's stomach is very small and they are getting what they need.
Newborn babies need anywhere from 10 to 45 minutes to complete a feeding. There is a lot of misinformation out there about this topic. Do not restrict your nursing time. Many people believe this helps to reduce nipple soreness, but that is not the case. Sore nipples are caused by improper positioning. There is no truth to the myth that it takes the a certain amount of time for the breast to empty either. You should let your baby nurse for as long as he/she wants. Not doing so will frustrate your baby and can lead to more engorgement down the road. When your baby is finished, he or she will let you know by letting go of your nipple. This is the absolute best way to end a feeding. If you do need to break the suction for some reason, make sure you do it properly by sliding your baby finger into the corner of your baby's mouth until you hear the release. You will be amazed at how strong the latch can be and if you don't break suction properly it will hurt!
Until your milk comes, your newborn will be nursing very frequently. At a minimum you should make sure you are nursing at least 8 times in a 24 hour period. The general rule of thumb is don't let your baby go more than 3 hours between feedings during the day and more than 4 hours during the night. This means you may have to wake your baby if he or she is very sleepy which newborns tend to be in the early days. When your milk comes in it is very important to make sure you are nursing every couple of hours to ensure a good milk supply. When your milk comes in, be prepared. This can be an rough 24-48 hour period. More on that in my next post!
1) Wear a supportive bra (nursing or otherwise) without underwire. Bras with underwire have been known to lead to plugged milk ducts and breast infections. I personally found any bra with underwire to be very uncomfortable in the last months of pregnancy anyway and could not imagine having worn one in the early weeks of breastfeeding. I found cotton nursing bras without any bells and whistles to be the most comfortable. As I mentioned in an earlier post, you may want to buy at least one nursing bra ahead of time. It is generally safe to buy one towards the end of your pregnancy because your breast size will not significantly change any more. You will eventually need more than one, but you can hold off buying more until you decided which ones you like.
2) Avoid washing your nipples with soap when you are in the shower as this can dry them out.
That's it! There isn't anything else you can/should do.
One of the most important things you can do to get ready for breastfeeding is educate yourself about what to expect and what is normal and abnormal. The more educated you are, the more enjoyable your breastfeeding experience will be. I highly recommend the book The Nursing Mother's Companion by Kathleen Huggins.
It is also a good idea to attend a prenatal breastfeeding class. I did a lot of reading beforehand so I didn't really learn anything new from the class, but they provide you will a ton of resources in your community that you can access of you have any questions or problems.
Breastfeeding can be one the most amazing experiences of your life. The bond that it creates between you and your baby is incredibly rewarding. I have had a wonderful experience and absolutely love it. That being said, breastfeeding is by no means easy and it requires a huge commitment on your part.
The first few days are particularly hard. Initially, just getting baby to latch on properly is a big challenge. Although babies are born with the rooting reflex, both you and your baby have to learn how to breastfeed. The nurses in the hospital should help you with this because it is really difficult to manage holding your newborn baby and getting him or her to latch on to your nipple all at the same time (I would recommend a Boppy pillow). Don't get frustrated because after only a few nursing, things start to get easier.
As a side note, make sure you let the nurses know that you want to breastfeed for the first time as soon as possible after giving birth. Infants are usually incredibly eager to suck within the first two hours after birth and this is a perfect time to get the learning ball rolling. Studies have shown that the longer you wait, the less successful breastfeeding will be. Also be sure to avoid giving your baby a pacifier in the early days of nursing. This can lead to all kinds of nursing problems such as latching problems and early weaning and ear infections down the road (more on pacifier use later).
Until your milk comes in (generally 3-4 days postpartum), your baby will be drinking colostrum. This is thick and yellow and it is the most important substance you will ever feed your baby. It provides your newborn with all kinds of antibodies, prevents bacteria from entering baby's intestines, stimulates baby's bowels and can reduce jaundice just to name a few of the benefits. It may not seem like your newborn is eating very much, but know that a newborn's stomach is very small and they are getting what they need.
Newborn babies need anywhere from 10 to 45 minutes to complete a feeding. There is a lot of misinformation out there about this topic. Do not restrict your nursing time. Many people believe this helps to reduce nipple soreness, but that is not the case. Sore nipples are caused by improper positioning. There is no truth to the myth that it takes the a certain amount of time for the breast to empty either. You should let your baby nurse for as long as he/she wants. Not doing so will frustrate your baby and can lead to more engorgement down the road. When your baby is finished, he or she will let you know by letting go of your nipple. This is the absolute best way to end a feeding. If you do need to break the suction for some reason, make sure you do it properly by sliding your baby finger into the corner of your baby's mouth until you hear the release. You will be amazed at how strong the latch can be and if you don't break suction properly it will hurt!
Until your milk comes, your newborn will be nursing very frequently. At a minimum you should make sure you are nursing at least 8 times in a 24 hour period. The general rule of thumb is don't let your baby go more than 3 hours between feedings during the day and more than 4 hours during the night. This means you may have to wake your baby if he or she is very sleepy which newborns tend to be in the early days. When your milk comes in it is very important to make sure you are nursing every couple of hours to ensure a good milk supply. When your milk comes in, be prepared. This can be an rough 24-48 hour period. More on that in my next post!
Saturday, May 22, 2010
Breastfeeding: Books & Breastpumps
Here we go...BREASTFEEDING! I am going to start out talking about books and breastpumps!
Books
I would highly recommend getting a copy of The Nursing Mother's Companion. I love this book! It is not preachy about breastfeeding the way books written by hard-core advocates can be. Rather, it recognizes that everyone's situation is different and that some mother's go back to work and some father's want to play a role in feeding. This book has answered every single question about breastfeeding that I have had to this day. It is very comprehensive and talks about everything from preparing for breastfeeding through to breastfeeding into the toddler years. I can't say enough good things about this book!
Breastpumps
Due to the nature of my job, I was only able to stay home with my daughter for 6 weeks before I had to return to work part-time. Therefore, a breastpump was absolutely necessary for me. I bought the Medela Pump in Style Advanced ($280.00 US). This is a daily use breastpump designed for mothers who pump several times a day. I really like this breastpump and would highly recommend it if you are going to be pumping regularly.
If you are only going to be pumping occasionally, I would recommend looking into a less expensive occasional use breastpump (manual, $35.00 US or electric, $150.00 US) to save yourself some money.
Even if you don't plan on pumping at all, I would consider buying an occasional use breastpump because there are situations in which you may want it.
For example, I used it on many occasions when my breasts were particularly engorged and my daughter was just not eating enough to give me relief. If you want your partner to be able to play a role in feeding, you are going to need a pump. Although I have not had this problem, I know some mothers need to pump in advance of feeding to get their milk flowing if it takes a long time to let down and/or baby is having trouble.
If you do decide to buy a breastpump, you will need storage bags if you plan of freezing your milk for later use. Everything else that I needed came with my breastpump (tubes, breastsheilds, cooler bag with ice pack, 4 - 5 oz bottles, lids, and wide-base slow flow nipples). Check the model you are considering to see of there are any additional supplies you might need.
A side note - the wide-based slow flow nipples and Medela bottles where the only nipples and bottles we could get my daughter to accept. We tried Playtex Ventaire and Gerber bottles and she refused both. Make sure you have a variety of nipple and bottle types on hand if you are going to try to get your baby to take a bottle because this can make a big difference in whether you are successful or not.
Stay tuned for more on breastfeeding and let me know if you have any questions!
Books
I would highly recommend getting a copy of The Nursing Mother's Companion. I love this book! It is not preachy about breastfeeding the way books written by hard-core advocates can be. Rather, it recognizes that everyone's situation is different and that some mother's go back to work and some father's want to play a role in feeding. This book has answered every single question about breastfeeding that I have had to this day. It is very comprehensive and talks about everything from preparing for breastfeeding through to breastfeeding into the toddler years. I can't say enough good things about this book!
Breastpumps
Due to the nature of my job, I was only able to stay home with my daughter for 6 weeks before I had to return to work part-time. Therefore, a breastpump was absolutely necessary for me. I bought the Medela Pump in Style Advanced ($280.00 US). This is a daily use breastpump designed for mothers who pump several times a day. I really like this breastpump and would highly recommend it if you are going to be pumping regularly.
If you are only going to be pumping occasionally, I would recommend looking into a less expensive occasional use breastpump (manual, $35.00 US or electric, $150.00 US) to save yourself some money.
Even if you don't plan on pumping at all, I would consider buying an occasional use breastpump because there are situations in which you may want it.
For example, I used it on many occasions when my breasts were particularly engorged and my daughter was just not eating enough to give me relief. If you want your partner to be able to play a role in feeding, you are going to need a pump. Although I have not had this problem, I know some mothers need to pump in advance of feeding to get their milk flowing if it takes a long time to let down and/or baby is having trouble.
If you do decide to buy a breastpump, you will need storage bags if you plan of freezing your milk for later use. Everything else that I needed came with my breastpump (tubes, breastsheilds, cooler bag with ice pack, 4 - 5 oz bottles, lids, and wide-base slow flow nipples). Check the model you are considering to see of there are any additional supplies you might need.
A side note - the wide-based slow flow nipples and Medela bottles where the only nipples and bottles we could get my daughter to accept. We tried Playtex Ventaire and Gerber bottles and she refused both. Make sure you have a variety of nipple and bottle types on hand if you are going to try to get your baby to take a bottle because this can make a big difference in whether you are successful or not.
Stay tuned for more on breastfeeding and let me know if you have any questions!
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