How to hold your baby while sitting while feeding. Comfortable position for breastfeeding baby. Breastfeeding lying down - maximum comfort

Modern mothers know that mother's milk is the most valuable food for the baby. It contains all essential vitamins. Mom should try to prolong the feeding period. How to breastfeed correctly, and is it possible to prepare for this in advance?

A young mother should study information about breastfeeding even before birth. This will give her self-confidence, help her calmly tune in to the feeding process when the baby is born.

Doctors believe that the baby should be attached to the mother's breast immediately after birth. And that's right. In just a few hours, colostrum is as nutritious as possible and strengthens the immunity of the baby.
In some cases, it is forbidden to apply the baby to the breast. This is due to the use of general anesthesia, birth injuries of the baby or serious diseases of the mother: HIV, syphilis.
For women's health, early breastfeeding is of great importance. The fact is that sucking provokes contraction of the uterus and separation of the placenta.
Taking antibiotics and undergoing a course of treatment with a number of drugs, it is impossible to breastfeed a child.
A healthy baby does not need to be supplemented, as colostrum provides all the needs of the newborn. Let's breastfeed as often as possible.
You need to feed the baby for 15 minutes, but the breast should be alternated. This stimulates lactation well and milk will soon appear.
Breast size does not affect lactation. Do you want more milk? Let your baby suckle more often.
If breastfeeding is contraindicated after childbirth, it is necessary to express milk. This will prevent the development of mastitis. Regular carrying out of the procedure is the key to long lactation.

How to breastfeed a newborn

For a successful breastfeeding process, every mother must know how to properly breastfeed her baby. If you do not acquire certain skills, you can provoke the refusal of a newborn from breastfeeding. To establish a good lactation will help:

comfortable postures for mom during feeding;
comfortable position of the child;
correct positioning and gripping of the nipple.

From the very first day, you need to select the most comfortable positions for feeding, because the process can drag on for a long time. The uncomfortable position of the mother or baby will cause a desire to abandon breastfeeding. Every woman should take this issue seriously.

The best positions for feeding

When choosing suitable positions for feeding, a mother should take into account her weight, size and shape of her breasts, and her state of health. Not only the saturation of the baby with milk, but also the release of the glands depends on the correctly chosen position.

The most comfortable when feeding are various postures from a prone position. They allow mom to rest, relax and rock the baby after feeding. For those who practice co-sleeping, lying down positions are most comfortable.

Often there are poses for feeding when the mother is sitting. They are no less comfortable, provide the correct grip on the breast and bring the baby full saturation with milk.

Cradle position. A sitting woman holds a child in her arms, his head lies in the crook of her elbow. This option is considered the most comfortable, the child well frees the milk tract, completely saturated with milk.
There is a reverse cradle position. The baby's head is on the woman's hand, while his torso is at hand. Sitting in this position, the mother does not get tired of the process and can control the breast latch by adjusting the position of the nipple.
From under the arm. A fairly comfortable position when the baby lies freely, and the mother holds his head with her palms. A good option feeding for hyperactive children or after caesarean section. The body of the newborn is at hand, which reduces pressure on the uterine area and ensures proper breastfeeding.
Good option for breastfeeding children from 6 months will be in a sitting position. The child is independently located on the mother's lap, which ensures comfort for both.

Modern women value their time, the rhythm of life makes them be active. Sometimes the process of feeding occurs almost on the run.

Rocking the baby while standing. A good position when you need to feed and rock the baby. Mom has to keep it at chest level so that the baby is as comfortable as possible.
A child who stands well on legs can be fed by placing on a chair. The mother holds the baby with her hands, ensuring a complete grip on the nipple.
At frequent regurgitation you can feed the baby when he sits on his mother's thigh, clasping her legs around her waist. In this case, the woman is standing.

How often to feed your baby

Many mothers are wondering: how often to breastfeed a newborn? Today, doctors advise feeding on demand. Although quite recently they insisted on strict observance of the regime. So where is the truth?

Proper breastfeeding is incompatible with regimens. In the first months of a child's life, he must receive food in response to his every cry or search movement.

Recognizing a hungry cry is quite simple. The baby begins to shake his head in different directions in search of the nipple, opens his mouth and grabs his finger. Most babies are fully satiated in 20 minutes, but some babies are slow. It is not necessary to take the breast, when the baby is satisfied with milk, he will let her go. The last portions are the most nutritious, contain more vitamins. Such milk is often referred to as "hind milk".

Daily feeding of the baby should be at least once every two hours. But at night, if the child sleeps peacefully, the breaks between meals can be up to four hours.

Sosem refuse night feeding is not worth it. The body of a woman is designed in such a way that hormones are produced at night. In the period from 3 to 8 hours there should be several feedings. Adhering to such rules, a woman will ensure herself a long and stable lactation.

Some experienced experts advise mothers to feed the baby while lying in warm water in the bath. In their opinion, this allows you to establish full tactile contact with the baby, which relieves tension and eliminates colic. With this method of feeding, both can fully enjoy the process.

Feeding should not be associated with labor. Mom should rest, relax and think only about the baby. Choose the most comfortable positions: on the sofa, easy chair or bed. This will surely benefit both and prolong this milestone in the life of a baby - natural feeding.

The process of feeding a child should take place in the most comfortable conditions and not cause unnecessary trouble. It is necessary to choose suitable positions for breastfeeding so that the mother can relax and rest, and the baby can be properly satiated. In a favorable environment, the outflow of milk is easier, and in an uncomfortable position, on the contrary, breast problems may occur, including cracked nipples or lactostasis.

Although any mother tries to intuitively find a comfortable position for feeding a child, it is better to know a few possible options that can come in handy in different situations. In addition, to reduce the likelihood of milk stagnation, it is recommended to periodically change the position, since only certain areas of the breast are emptied in each position.

Whatever position you choose, there are a few rules for comfortable feeding:

The body of the crumbs should be in one direction, that is, the head, shoulders, tummy and legs are turned in one direction.
It is better to hold newborns with your hand obliquely along the entire body, while supporting their head.
Sit comfortably without leaning sideways or pulling your chest out towards your baby. Better pull the baby closer to you.
It is necessary to give the breast so that the baby captures not only the nipple itself, but also part of the areola (the areola), to a greater extent from below.
When feeding, the baby's lips should be slightly turned out, and the mouth should be wide open.
For a comfortable position, get several pillows, from small to large sizes so that they can be placed under the arms, lower back or head.
Thanks to skin-to-skin contact, milk is released more easily, so it is advisable to choose thin fabrics in clothes for yourself and your baby at the time of feeding.

By following the basic rules, you can make the feeding process convenient in any of the selected positions. And yet, what positions for breastfeeding are there and in what cases is it better to use them?

Pose "cradle"

This position is considered classical. Sitting on an armchair or sofa, the woman holds the baby on her arm under the breast with which she is going to feed. The head of the child at this time is located at the level of the elbow. If the baby was born recently, then the mother holds his ass with her palm, and if he is already a few months old - behind the back. The baby is turned towards the mother's breast, belly to belly.

To make it more comfortable to hold the baby at your chest, you can arrange your legs on a slight elevation. For added comfort, place a pillow under your back and lean on it. In this position, it is difficult, out of habit, to keep the weight of the baby on own hand for a long time, so it is recommended to lean your elbow on an object. Such a support can be, for example, a pillow or armrest of a chair.

One variation of this position is standing feeding. Thus, moving with smooth steps around the bedroom, the mother can rock the baby and put her to bed.

Another type of posture is the “cross cradle”. The position remains the same, only the hand with which you embrace the baby changes. If the baby sucks out right chest, you support it with your left hand, and vice versa. This position is suitable for newborns, as it is convenient for the mother to hold the head of the baby with the palm of her hand and make sure that he takes the breast in the right way.

Pose "from under the arm"

The baby is in a prone position, on the side of the mother, as if looking out from under the mother's hand. In this case, it is recommended to put a pillow of a suitable height under the baby's body. The baby's legs lie behind the mother's back, and the stomach is pressed against the mother's side. The woman sits and holds the baby with her hand from the side on which he is located, and supports his head with her palm. You can vary the position slightly, feeding reclining or leaning on your side, which is especially suitable for women who are not allowed to sit for some time after childbirth.

This posture has a number of advantages:

Mom can guide the baby's head and control the latch on the breast.
The position is relevant for mothers with flat nipples or big breasted.
The baby actively empties those lobes of the mammary gland that are located below and in the armpit area.
Milk stasis quite often occurs in this area.
The baby does not put pressure on the seam on the mother's abdomen if she had a caesarean section.
The position is relevant for the simultaneous feeding of twins.

Pose "lying on the side"

This position is great for night feedings, as it allows mom to rest. This pose has two varieties:

Feeding from the lower breast. Mom settles down on her side, and the baby lies on her arm and is completely turned towards her. Do not lay the baby on the back, turning his head, it will be difficult for him to swallow milk. With the hand that is on top, put the breast in the baby's mouth. A pillow is placed under the mother's head, while the shoulders and back are not raised by any means. Alternatively, place your bent arm on a pillow next to or under your head. To keep your baby in the supine position and not roll over from side to back, you can support him from behind with a pillow or a folded blanket. If you have large breasts, then place a diaper rolled into a roller under it.
Feeding from the upper breast. Mom and baby are in a lying position facing each other on their sides. To ensure the child's comfort, it is better to put him on a pillow, and take him with his free hand. This position will come in handy if you have milk stasis closer to the center of the chest. In addition, it is not forbidden to use the position if the mother fed the baby from the lower breast and she does not want to roll over. Among the shortcomings of the position, one can note a rather large load on the mother's hand, because she has to lean on it and slightly raise her body.

Pose "Jack"

This position is similar to the side lying position, but the child is positioned in the opposite direction, as if upside down. This position helps to cope with lactostasis in the upper breasts, because the baby sucks most effectively in the area where his lower jaw is located.

Pose "lying on the back"

This position is also called the "Australian" or "telephone" position, as the baby lies on the mother's chest like the handset on old telephones. A woman can keep the correct position of the baby so that it does not roll with her hands. It is easy to move into this position from a sitting position if you lean back on your back.

This position can be useful for mothers whose babies cannot cope with a large flow of milk. The child swallows less milk, and therefore does not choke. This position is also good for newborns as the baby needs less effort to latch on to the breast deeply. Another advantage of the position is the stimulation of the baby's tummy, which prevents colic and gas.

Pose "hanging"

Mom gets on all fours and, as it were, hangs over the baby, putting him on a pillow, slightly turned on his side. Alternatively, you can arrange your child lying on the changing table and bend over him. This position will improve your lactostasis, as the outflow of milk is easier. This position is also suitable for weak babies who find it difficult to suckle. However, it is not comfortable to feed in this position for a long time.

Pose "on the hip"

This position is suitable for babies who can sit, that is, most often after reaching six months of age. The disadvantage of the position is that there is a high probability that the child will be taken over by curiosity and he will turn his head while feeding, so he will have to be constantly carefully held.

Pose on your knees

The mother places the baby on her lap in a sitting position. This position is useful if the baby is blown away: he has a stuffy nose or he is worried about pain in his ears. In this position, the discomfort of the crumbs will be less. The situation is also relevant for those children who tend to swallow too much milk and spit it up.

Pose "standing" (the baby is standing)

This position is more suitable for those children who already know how to walk, but you can try to use it earlier. The pose can be used to soothe a crying baby by holding it to the chest for a few minutes.

Pose "standing" (mother is standing)

If your child has played out and doesn’t want to sleep in any, but it’s time to put him down, you can offer him a breast while standing. If at the same time you gently sway, then the baby will quickly fall asleep. What is valuable, this position is suitable for both a newborn and an older baby.

Sling feeding

Modern mothers often carry their baby in a sling with them wherever they go. This accessory not only does not interfere, but also contributes to breastfeeding. Organizing feeding in a sling, mother can even move in parallel and do simple housework.

Positions for breastfeeding twins

While the new mother is learning the ins and outs of breastfeeding, she can feed the twins in turn. However, to save time, it does not hurt to get the hang of it and arrange simultaneous feeding, for which the following poses are suitable:

The out-of-hand position is very convenient to use if there are suitable pillows to arrange babies on them.
You can hold the twins like in a "cradle" so that their legs touch in front.
Position yourself so that one baby is in a lying position in the “cradle”, and the other one looks out “from under the arm”.

Feeding during pregnancy

It becomes more difficult for a mother who is expecting a baby to feed an older child. Many positions are no longer suitable due to mom's noticeably enlarged tummy and restrictions on lifting weights. Various devices come to the rescue, such as a special pillow for pregnant women. You can put a baby on it, lifting it in this way to the height of your mother's chest. At the same time, the mother can feed while sitting or lying down.

There is also an “over the shoulder” pose. In this case, the mother settles down lying or reclining so that she is as comfortable as possible. To the right or left of you, you need to put a pillow or a folded blanket so that you can lay the child on it. Then the mother puts the baby on her shoulder on her tummy, head to chest. At the same time, the legs remain behind the shoulder on a pillow or blanket. In this position, the mother's back is relaxed, the stomach is free, and the baby gets free access to the mother's breast.

Each mother is individual and has personal preferences, and children have different temperaments. Therefore, a woman will have to choose the position for feeding her crumbs herself from all the variety presented. The main thing is that the mother can relax and get pleasant emotions from the feeding process, and the baby remains full and peaceful.

Therefore, it is important for mothers to know all the nuances of this process.

Comfortable postures, as well as correct attachment to and common feeding mistakes will be discussed in this article.

The first application takes place as early as, and a woman may not know many of the intricacies of the process. In the first two or three days after, a woman's breast contains colostrum - a liquid that contains a large amount of protein and a relatively small amount of fat, lactose and water.

It is colostrum that is important in the first days after the birth of the baby, because it helps to establish the digestive process. With colostrum, antitoxins will also enter the child's body, which will affect the immune system. Colostrum allows you to cleanse the body of the newborn from meconium - the first stool. It also reduces the likelihood of development.

Did you know? Scientists have found that babies are most often born on Tuesday. The least "popular" days are Saturday and Sunday.

The first attachment to the breast provides the baby not only with vital substances, but also with the psychological connection with the mother. The first application is recommended to be carried out on the first day after, so that the child recognizes the smell of the mother, her heartbeat and feels comfortable in the future. It also allows the woman to get used to the baby and establish a bond with him.

How to properly apply to the chest, grip

It happens that even women who give birth not for the first time do not know how to breastfeed properly. Wrong is the one in which the child does not gain stable weight, and in which the injury occurs. So, proper breastfeeding includes the following points:

a comfortable position for the baby, in which he can get enough;
a comfortable position for mom, because feeding can take 40-60 minutes;
correct capture of the nipple and areola by the child;

Initially, you need to put the child correctly so that his head is fixed. Then you need to wait until the baby opens his mouth wide. At this point, he needs to be breastfed. Please note that the chest must be held as follows: the thumb is above the areola, the index and middle fingers are below it (little finger and ring finger can be bent). It is necessary to give not the nipple, but the areola. Then the baby will suckle properly at the breast.

The nipple itself should be clamped by the root of the baby's tongue and the soft part of the palate. In this case, the tip of the tongue will press on the areola, and the wave-like movement will be natural. Make sure that the chin is firmly pressed to the chest. The nose should touch the chest. The baby's mouth should remain wide open throughout the process.

Did you know? Up to 9 months, the baby can swallow and breathe at the same time.

If the child does not open his mouth, then he can move his nipple along the nasolabial triangle, where there are nerve endings responsible for some reflexes.

Certain difficulties may arise with those who have already tried the pacifier. The fact is that the principle of its use is different from breast sucking. The nipple inside is empty and it turns out to be captured only by the lips, like a tube. In this case, it is important to accustom the baby to two situations: with and with the breast.

Postures for feeding

When you figured out how to properly feed a baby, you need to learn the postures in which this process takes place. There are a large number of positions for feeding, but we can distinguish four main ones:

"standing". In this position, the main thing is to comfortably take the baby so that your hands do not get tired. The baby should lie in the folds of the elbows. Thanks to this, the hands will be free, and the main load will go to the muscles of the forearm;

Important! Keep the baby strictly on its side. Lying on his back, he will be uncomfortable swallowing milk.

There are even patents for breastfeeding provisions in the world. One of these postures is Biological Nurturing. It implies that the child himself must find the nipple. This happens as follows: the mother undresses half, exposing the torso, settles in the “reclining” position (also called “half-sitting”), placing a pillow under the lower back or completely under the back. Then the child is placed with his tummy on his chest, and he must find the nipple in this position. This is also due to the glands of Montgomery, which are located on the areola. It is they who secrete a certain substance that the baby captures with olfactory receptors. Thus, the child himself will open his mouth wide to start eating. But the pose is convenient for those children who have already learned to hold their heads.

Did you know? Scientists have established a relationship between the number of glands of Montgomery and physical development baby. The more such glands the mother has, the more actively the child eats.

How often to feed

It is important for mothers to know not only about positions, but also how often to feed a newborn baby. Please note that for a uniform flow of milk in the breast, it is necessary to give the baby two breasts in one feeding. But there are times when a child is saturated with one breast.
Doctors recommend feeding a newborn every two hours. This will allow the baby to gain weight steadily and will not lead to complications. Please note that it is not recommended to feed the child at the first “call”. If a child cries, it does not mean that he is hungry.

It would seem that there is nothing easier than attaching a newborn to the breast. However, unfortunately, not always everything is as simple and smooth as we would like. Some mothers experience problems with breastfeeding not only in the first month, but throughout the entire lactation period. How to breastfeed and express milk so that this process is not overshadowed by anything?

How and when to breastfeed a newborn baby

The first question that worries all young mothers is “how and when to put the baby to the breast”? It is very important to do this as early as possible - already in the delivery room, in the first 30 minutes after birth. Now it is practiced in many maternity hospitals.

It is noted that the correct early attachment of the child to the breast with the mother contributes to the production of breast milk in a larger volume and for a longer time. If it is difficult to attach the baby to the breast immediately after birth ( C-section, illness of the mother or child), this should be done as soon as possible. And before that, milk must be expressed regularly and given to the child.

It is very important that mother and baby are placed in the same room immediately after delivery. When staying together in the postpartum ward, the mother has unlimited access to the baby at any time of the day, she can breastfeed the newborn whenever he wants, at his first request, which contributes to a better condition for both the mother and the child.

When not to breastfeed

The breastfeeding rules do not allow breastfeeding only in exceptional cases, when the mother is seriously ill. This may be an open form of tuberculosis, cancer, heart disease in the stage of decompensation, severe renal or hepatic pathology, AIDS, etc.

With some acute infectious diseases of the mother (flu, tonsillitis, acute respiratory disease, etc.) breastfeeding is not cancelled. But mom must be careful: put on a mask of several layers of gauze, wash her hands thoroughly. At this time, it is better to entrust the care of the child to dad or grandmother.

With such severe infectious diseases as typhus, erysipelas, the baby must be isolated from the mother and fed with expressed milk. And only after her recovery, you can resume breastfeeding.

How to properly hold your baby while breastfeeding

According to the rules of feeding, the baby should be applied to the breast only in a calm environment! This contributes to a more complete flask of milk and its good absorption. It is best if the mother and the baby can retire and fully concentrate on feeding, without being distracted by extraneous conversations, watching TV, reading, etc. Under these conditions, she can observe the behavior of the child during feeding.

For yourself and for the child you need to choose a comfortable position. The process of feeding often lasts up to 15-20 minutes or more, and if a woman is in an uncomfortable position all this time, she may experience pulling pains in the muscles of her back and lower back, fatigue and even irritation. All this can adversely affect milk production.

How to keep a baby while breastfeeding in the first days after birth? During this period, the mother should feed the baby lying on her side, placing pillows under her head and back! The child, while he is still small, should also be placed on the pillow so that he feels the warmth of the mother's body, hears the sounds of her heartbeat familiar to him, meets his eyes with his mother's eyes. Many women find that this is the most comfortable position, allowing them to relax easily, which is very important for a good outflow of milk.

If the mother is feeding the baby while sitting, then for this it is best to adapt a low chair or armchair, put a pillow under her back! For proper feeding of an infant under the leg (from the side of the breast from which the child is fed), you need to substitute a small bench. At the same time, the child is comfortably located on the lap of the mother, who, resting her hand on a bent knee or arm of the chair, supports the baby under the head and back, which should be in one straight line. Do not put pressure on the child's head, otherwise he will reflexively recline it back.

The position "behind the back" is more convenient when feeding twins. And how to breastfeed a baby if he suffers from frequent spitting up? In this case, a vertical position is recommended.

Proper attachment of the baby to the breast: useful tips for breastfeeding

It is very important to learn how to properly organize breastfeeding, as pediatricians advise. In order to properly breastfeed the baby, as practice shows, he must be turned to the mother with his whole body and pressed against her. His face is close to his chest, his chin touches his chest, his mouth is wide open, his lower lip is turned out, the baby captures both the nipple and areola, above upper lip a larger area of the areola is visible than under the lower one. With proper sucking, the baby makes slow, deep sucking movements and swallows milk. The mother does not experience pain in the nipple area.

At each feeding, it is better to give the child only one breast! In this case, he receives the so-called "hind" milk, rich in fat. "Forward" milk contains a lot of lactose and water. However, if the baby, having completely emptied one breast, is not satisfied, he can be given a second one. In this case, the next feeding should be started from the breast that ended the previous one.

A useful tip for breastfeeding is to hold the baby in an upright position after feeding so that the air swallowed during sucking escapes! This is usually identified by a loud burp. Sometimes at the same time the baby spits up a little milk, which should not be a cause for concern. After finishing feeding, the breast should be held open for some time so that the nipple dries up in the air. In this case, a so-called protective film is formed on it.

How to properly breastfeed after childbirth: feeding on demand

Many pediatricians, when recommending how to properly breastfeed, advise the practice of feeding the baby on demand. A child can receive breasts up to 8-12 times a day. This practice is especially necessary in the first days and weeks of a baby's life. At the same time, the mother needs to learn to distinguish the "hungry" cry of the child (the baby turns his head in search of the mother's breast, smacks his lips, cries loudly insistently) from his other requirements.

Frequent feeding stimulates better milk production, ensures calm behavior and full development of the baby. In the future, usually by the end of the neonatal period, the baby develops its own feeding regimen, most often from 6 to 8 times a day and, as a rule, without a night break.

If you are just learning the basics of how to properly establish breastfeeding after childbirth, keep in mind that, in accordance with modern concepts, a breastfed child, at least for the first 2-3 months, does not need any nutritional supplements, as well as drinking in the form of boiled water, glucose solution, physiological saline. He receives all the necessary amount of liquid from breast milk. Giving your baby water will reduce his appetite and ultimately the mother's milk production.

How to properly organize breastfeeding: the duration of feeding

Another breastfeeding tip for breastfeeding mothers is to breastfeed your baby according to the baby's needs. The duration of feeding depends on the amount of milk, the speed of its separation, and most importantly, on the activity of the child. In most cases, the baby is at the mother's breast for 15-20 minutes. However, there are very fast and active suckers who are saturated within 5-7 minutes and refuse to breastfeed themselves. Usually healthy child during feeding, he sucks out as much milk as he needs, and the mother easily determines when it is time to wean him from the breast. In order to properly breastfeed a newborn, as a rule, the baby is held until he vigorously sucks and swallows, and then releases the nipple himself.

It also happens that weakened children or the so-called "lazy suckers" are ready to suckle for a very long time, and sometimes even, not having time to fully get enough, they quickly fall asleep without releasing the nipple. However, it is not recommended to keep the baby at the breast for a long time, as this can lead to irritation and injury of the nipple, the formation of painful cracks on it. If the child sucks sluggishly, falls asleep at the breast, he should be encouraged to be active - lightly pat on the cheek, make an attempt to take the breast. Usually the baby wakes up immediately and continues to actively suck. If the baby has not woken up and released the nipple, you can express a few drops of milk into his mouth, which stimulates the appetite and causes a swallowing reflex, after which he begins to suck again.

Problems with breastfeeding a newborn in the first month

The first few weeks of breastfeeding a baby can be quite difficult, especially for an inexperienced mother. What are the causes of difficulties, and how to solve problems with breastfeeding?

First of all, the development of lactostasis is possible, when there is a blockage of the milk ducts due to the accumulation of excess milk, which often happens in the first time after childbirth.

The breast tissue is divided into 10-20 segments, from which one duct emerges. With blockage of the duct, possibly due to wearing tight clothes or poor suction by the child of this part of the breast, a painful swelling develops. Blockage of the duct must be carefully treated to prevent mastitis or breast abscess.

What can mom do?

Drink less liquid.
Put the baby to the breast with a hard painful area more often.
Pay special attention to the correct position of the child, which ensures the suction of milk from all segments of the mammary gland.
It is necessary to make a light massage of the breast. Such a massage is done in the direction from the hardened area to the areola.
You can try expressing some milk. This will make your breasts softer and make it easier for your baby to suckle.

Breast problems in a mother while breastfeeding

tight chest

One of the reasons that prevents normal breastfeeding may be that the mother has a so-called tight breast, when milk is produced normally, but it is difficult to separate, and it is not easy for the baby to suck it out in the right amount. In this case, the chest may become hot, heavy and hard, sometimes painful engorgement occurs.

In order for the breast to be released from milk faster, the mother needs to feed the baby more often. If it is difficult for a child to take such a breast, you should express a little milk before applying it, after which it will go easier. (You need to express milk in a sterile dish, observing all the rules of hygiene.) Sometimes breast massage before feeding helps.

Misshaped nipples

Another problem with breasts during breastfeeding is the wrong shape of the nipples (flat, inverted). How to feed a breastfed baby in this case? With an irregular shape of the nipples in the mother, it is especially important to achieve the correct attachment of the child to the breast, to make sure that he captures not only the nipple, but also a sufficient part of the breast.

When the baby begins to actively suckle the breast, the nipples will not become longer, but may be more stretchable. If a child cannot suckle at such a breast, he has to be fed through a breastplate, and sometimes even with expressed milk.

Inflammation of the nipples

Incorrect position in which the baby suckles at the breast can lead to the development of inflammation of the nipples and the appearance of cracks on them, which makes it difficult to breastfeed. Cracked nipples cause severe pain to the mother when the baby is attached to the breast,

It is possible to cure inflammation and cracks in the nipples by correcting the position of the child during feeding. Usually there is no need to stop feeding even for a short time. After each feeding, the nipples should be lubricated with expressed breast milk, which, as we have already said, drying in the air, forms a protective film. Between feedings, it is desirable to keep the chest open as much as possible, if possible, do sunbathing for the nipples.

Advice on breastfeeding a child in some cases, if feeding is accompanied by severe pain - for some time to feed the baby through a pad or freshly expressed milk. It is better to give expressed milk to your baby from a spoon or from a small cup, and not from a bottle. Having got used to the bottle, the baby will then not so actively suckle the breast.

Do not apply cream or any medication to the nipples, wash them with soap, treat with deodorant, as this can increase inflammation.

If the inflammation lasts more than a week or recurs after a certain period, you can suspect fungal infection(thrush), which is accompanied by itching or sharp pain and the appearance of white pimples on the nipples. For the treatment of thrush, nystatin ointment is used, which is used to treat the mother's nipples and the baby's mouth. You should consult a doctor for advice.

If the inflammation and cracks in the nipples are not eliminated in time, an infection can enter the breast tissue. In this case, part of the breast becomes red, hot, swollen and painful when touched, the body temperature rises, inflammation of the gland develops - mastitis, which can be complicated by a breast abscess. Mastitis is not always an obstacle to breastfeeding. If only a seal appears in the chest, it is allowed to feed the baby. With severe pain and the appearance of a purulent infection, the application of the child to the sore breast should be temporarily stopped. At the same time, milk from a diseased breast must be expressed (so that it continues to be produced), but it is not necessary to give it to the child. You can start feeding from this breast only after the permission of the attending physician. Healthy breastfeeding should be continued.

Problems in a newborn baby while breastfeeding

Frequent constipation in a child

At frequent first months of life, it is recommended to use a vent tube or an enema (on the recommendation of a doctor). With such a problem in a child with breastfeeding, an earlier introduction of juices (preferably with pulp), as well as fruit purees (apples with peaches, apples with prunes, etc.) is possible.

Baby refuses to breastfeed

In cases of stomatitis or thrush, the child may refuse to breastfeed. Then he has to be fed with expressed milk from a spoon or cup, but not through a nipple, as this can lead to a change in the baby's sucking activity and difficulties in resuming breastfeeding.

Feeding with a cold

With a runny nose, the child cannot breathe freely during feeding. How to breastfeed a baby in this case? Before applying a baby with a runny nose to his chest, he needs to carefully treat his nose: clean each nasal passage with a cotton flagellum, removing all the mucus, drip the drops prescribed by the doctor. Sometimes this treatment procedure has to be repeated during feeding.

Facial malformations

An obstacle to breastfeeding may be some malformations of the child's face ("cleft lip", cleft palate), requiring surgical intervention. "Cleft lip", as a rule, is eliminated at the age of three months, cleft palate - at the age of one year. Therefore, it is especially important to keep breastfeeding for such a child, which will help him gain strength before the operation.

If a child has only a cleft lip and even a cleft gum, he may adapt himself to breastfeed. What is the best way to breastfeed a baby in this case? It is important to help him learn to suck in the correct position, grabbing the breast well enough. With a cleft palate, the baby may choke while sucking the breast, his milk often flows out through the nose. To prevent this from happening, when breastfeeding newborns with facial problems, it is recommended to keep it in an upright position, then it will be easier to adapt to sucking. You can use special plates (obturators) that close the palate defect. And yet, with this pathology, it is often necessary to feed the child with expressed milk from a spoon, cup or through a tube, but at the same time breast milk should be constantly offered to him directly from the breast. Over time, many children, even with such a pathology, still adapt to suck on their mother's breasts.

Tongue frenulum

Some difficulties in sucking at the breast may occur in a child with a shortened frenulum of the tongue. With such a pathology, the baby is not able to stick out his tongue far, which interferes with effective sucking.

In this case, you need to consult a doctor who will recommend treatment. Most often, cutting the frenulum is required. But in many children the frenulum is only slightly shortened, and they do an excellent job of suckling at the breast.

Jaundice

Newborn babies with jaundice need to be exclusively breastfed. Jaundice usually develops in an infant on the 2nd or 3rd day of life. It most often occurs in premature babies, but it also occurs in children with normal birth weight. As a rule, jaundice occurs due to the fact that the liver of the child is slightly underdeveloped. The occurrence of jaundice may partly be due to the later start of breastfeeding, as well as the fact that the child receives little mother's milk. It should be remembered that colostrum helps the child quickly get rid of the first feces and is a good prevention of jaundice.

Sometimes children with neonatal jaundice are drowsy, not actively sucking their mother's breast. In this case, the mother needs to express milk and feed it to the baby from a cup. In all cases, it is necessary to consult a doctor.

Breastfeeding: how to properly feed your baby

Quite often, especially in the first weeks of life, the child may worry while sucking the breast or after feeding due to pain in the intestines - the so-called colic. In this case, the baby first eagerly grabs the breast, begins to suck vigorously, and then throws the nipple and cries loudly, then sucks again and cries again. Such crying during feeding can be caused by increased intestinal motility when the first portions of milk enter it. It is possible that colic occurs due to increased gas formation in the intestines and its swelling, as well as when air is swallowed during sucking.

For the prevention of colic, it is necessary after each feeding, as mentioned earlier, to keep the child in an upright position to drain the swallowed air

If colic occurs, proper breastfeeding of the baby may be interrupted: during feeding, you should take the baby from the breast for a minute, also hold it in an upright position so that the air leaves, do a light massage of the abdomen warm hand clockwise or apply a warm (not hot!) heating pad. If this does not help, you can put a gas outlet tube. Usually everything ends with a bowel movement, the baby calms down, and feeding can be continued.

Some mothers in these cases give the child another breast, believing that he is crying because of a lack of milk. This is not necessary, since the baby will again receive only “front” milk, which contains a large amount of lactose, which can only increase the process of gas formation and intestinal motility.

For persistent colic, you should consult a doctor.

According to the rules of breastfeeding a newborn, it is very useful to lay the baby on the stomach between meals. It is good if from the first days the baby is taught to sleep on his stomach, which is practiced in many countries. At the same time, the child is not swaddled, but dressed in a blouse and sliders - so he can take the most comfortable position.

How best to feed a baby: rules for breastfeeding

Very young children often experience regurgitation after feeding.

This is due to the peculiarities of the structure of their digestive organs: the esophagus of a newborn child is relatively wide, the muscular layer of the stomach is not yet sufficiently developed, and after eating, the entrance to the stomach closes weakly, and sometimes even remains open.

Spitting up should not be a cause for concern: when the baby gets a little older, they stop on their own.

So-called active suckers often suffer from habitual regurgitation. During feeding, they swallow a lot of air along with milk, which then leaves the stomach, taking with it part of the milk. To prevent regurgitation, immediately after weaning the child from the breast, hold him in an upright position until the air swallowed during sucking leaves, which is determined by a loud belch.

After feeding, the baby should be laid on its side or on the stomach, but in no case on the back, so that when regurgitation milk does not enter the respiratory tract.

Spitting up should not be a cause for concern: when the baby gets a little older, they stop on their own. With persistent regurgitation, you should consult a doctor.

If a child vomits after feeding, and even more so if it recurs, you should immediately consult a doctor.

If the child vomits immediately after feeding or after some time, and even more so if it recurs, you should immediately consult a doctor and strictly follow his prescriptions. Vomiting can be a sign of an intestinal disease. At the same time, the baby's stool becomes more frequent, its appearance mucus appears. Abundant repeated vomiting occurs in children with congenital pathology of the stomach (spasm or stenosis of the entrance to the stomach), which requires special treatment.

Breastfeeding Methods for Twin Babies

Certain difficulties are encountered when feeding twins. They have to be fed from both breasts, applying alternately. In this case, you should first feed the more restless child. The second baby is applied to the breast that the first suckled. This is done in order to empty the mammary gland as much as possible and increase the production of milk in it. After that, the baby is fed from the second breast. The next feeding begins with the breast on which the feeding ended. It is only important that each child receives both “forward” and “hind” milk, this will ensure their normal development.

One way to breastfeed twin babies is to feed at the same time, applying to both breasts at once. In this case, the mother only needs to choose a comfortable position for herself and for the children.

Usually, when feeding twins, mother's milk is not enough, and they have to be supplemented artificial mixtures. At the same time, it is very important that both children receive at least a little mother's milk at each feeding, since only it contains both enzymes that help digestion and protective antibodies that protect babies from diseases.

How to teach a premature baby to breastfeed

Close attention should be paid to the rules and techniques of breastfeeding a premature baby. Special Studies showed that the milk of the mother of a premature baby contains more protein. Therefore, premature babies grow better on their mother's milk than on donor "mature" breast milk. If necessary, special "amplifiers" of milk containing vitamins, minerals and easily digestible protein can be added to breast milk.

Premature babies weighing less than 1600 g often do not know how to not only suck, but also swallow. Such children should be kept in the departments for premature babies. They are fed with expressed milk through a special tube. If the baby can swallow, he can be fed from a small cup, but not from a bottle, otherwise it will be difficult for him to suckle later.

In order for the mother of a premature baby to produce more milk, she must begin manual pumping as early as possible. It is necessary to express milk before each feeding of the child, that is, after 3 hours, day and night, up to 8-10 times a day. If you express only 1-2 times a day, milk production in the breast will decrease.

When the baby's body weight reaches 1600-1800 g, you can try to breastfeed the baby. Moreover, this should be done often in order to switch to direct breastfeeding as early as possible. This tactic helps develop breastfeeding skills and better stimulates the milk ejection reflex. It is very important to help a premature baby to take the breast in the correct position. So he will quickly get used to self-sucking.

At first time premature baby sucks with respite. This must be taken into account and not taken prematurely from the chest. After the baby has sucked at the breast as much as he could, but has not yet received the required amount of milk, the milk remaining in the breast should be expressed and fed to the baby from a cup.

If a child is sick, breastfeeding is an essential part of the treatment. Mother's milk is the most nutritious, easily digestible food that contributes to a faster recovery of the child.

How to breastfeed a sick baby

If necessary, a sick child should be fed with expressed breast milk from a cup or spoon. If milk is expressed, it will be produced in sufficient quantities.

Any sick baby, including one with diarrhea, can be breastfed as much and as often as a healthy baby. Moreover, if a child, due to a serious condition and weakness, cannot suckle hard enough and for a long time, he needs to be breastfed as often as possible.

If any therapeutic solution is prescribed to a sick child (to compensate for fluid losses with frequent stools), it should be given from a cup so that the baby does not lose the skill of breast sucking.

How to breastfeed your baby and express milk

It is important not only to know how to properly teach a child to breastfeed, but also how to express milk.

Sometimes a practically healthy and full-term baby refuses to breastfeed. Most often this occurs with severe engorgement of the mammary glands. In this case, a small amount of breast milk is expressed.

It is very important to learn how to express milk correctly.

In case of breast engorgement, pumping can be painful. Then you can apply a warm compress or a heating pad with warm water to your chest, take a warm shower. At the beginning of pumping, you need to gently massage the breast towards the nipple, you can lightly stroke the nipple and areola with your fingertips. Pumping should be carried out only until the feeling of fullness of the breast has passed, after which the nipples become less tense and the child can easily take the breast.

If the baby is premature, weak or sick, you need to express milk immediately before each feeding. At the same time, milk, if a sufficient amount is produced, is expressed from only one breast, which ensures its full composition. The baby in this case receives both “forward” and “back” milk. For the next feeding, milk is expressed from the other breast. And only with insufficient lactation, milk is expressed each time from both breasts.

Milk can be expressed manually or with a breast pump. There are many types of breast pumps available today.

Pump and breast pump with pear. Previously, there were only such breast pumps. Now they are also sold, but are already unpopular, mainly because they injure the breasts, they can be used to collect some milk, and also because they cannot be used often.
Piston. Very popular breast pump with soft silicone nozzles. Relatively inexpensive, effective and silent, does not injure the chest. The main disadvantage: when decanting, hands get tired quickly.
Electric. Also popular despite the high price. It is very convenient to use, when decanting massages the chest, high performance. Among the shortcomings is the noise during operation.
Electronic. Microprocessor-controlled breast pump, mainly used in maternity hospitals.

A breast pump is best used when you need to express a lot of milk, and also when manual pumping is painful.

Manual pumping. It is most convenient to do this in a position where the chest hangs down. The chest should be clasped with a hand so that the thumb is on the areola above the nipple, and the index and middle fingers are under the nipple. First you need to make a few light massaging movements with your fingers from the base of the breast towards the areola (the movements should be soft and intermittent, as when rubbing the cream into the skin; if necessary, you can knead the milk passages by pressing with the fingertips and produce vibration). Having adjusted the milk to the areola, it is necessary to deeply capture the areola and press towards the nipple. Milk first flows out in drops, and then, with repeated manipulations, in a trickle. Thus, the entire breast is massaged and milk is expressed until it is completely emptied.

You can express milk using the "warm bottle" method, especially for breast engorgement and tight nipples.

This method is as follows. Hot water is poured into a sufficiently capacious (from about 700 ml to 1-1.5 and even 3 l) thoroughly washed bottle with a wide neck (at least 3 cm in diameter). tightly applied to the nipple area so that the bottle hermetically closes it. The nipple is drawn into the neck, and the milk begins to separate. When the flow of milk weakens, the bottle is removed, the milk is poured into a clean container prepared in advance. Then the bottle is refilled hot water, and the whole procedure is repeated several times until the milk is completely expressed.

Repeated expression of milk, if necessary, can be carried out no earlier than 2-3 hours later to avoid unnecessary injury to the breast.

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Every nursing mother should properly establish breastfeeding, as this is the key to the full growth and development of the child. In addition, the process of breastfeeding directly affects the production of milk, the course of lactation and the well-being of the mother herself. Improper feeding brings discomfort and leads to breast problems, causing lactostasis or mastitis.

How to start breastfeeding

Establishing breastfeeding consists of several aspects, including:

Feeding a nursing mother. When breastfeeding, you do not need to follow a strict diet, you need to adhere to strict restrictions only in the first two to four weeks after childbirth. The menu for lactation should be varied and contain the necessary vitamins and elements. The main thing is not to abuse and not to overeat! Do not forget to observe the drinking regimen, as drinking plenty of water has a beneficial effect on lactation. How to eat right when breastfeeding, read more;
Attaching the baby to the breast is also of no small importance. The baby must properly grasp the nipple. Otherwise, this will lead to the fact that the baby will not eat up, and cracks and abrasions will appear on the juices. Cracks often cause infections in a nursing mother and cause lactostasis and mastitis. How to teach a child to properly grasp the nipple and suck milk, read the article;
Feed your baby on demand, not on schedule. You need to feed during the day at least once every two hours, at night - at least four times. Do not use pacifiers or pacifiers. If you are feeding a baby, take a teaspoon, with small amounts of food, you can use a syringe;
Don't introduce complementary foods too early. Feeding babies with adult food begins at six to eight months. When and how to introduce the first complementary foods, read the link /;
Comfortable breastfeeding positions are not just about comfort for mother and baby. Due to the incorrect position, the baby will not grab the nipple so well and will not receive the required amount of milk. And in the mother's breasts, milk clots may form, and cracks on the nipples.

When feeding, not only the posture is important, but also the conditions under which the woman feeds. Make sure that there is water or tea nearby and a book is lying. Arrange the feeding area with pillows so that it is soft to sit or lie down. The more successful and comfortable the mother is, the more fruitful the feeding will be. The baby will properly attach to the breast, the milk will be freely distributed and moved, and the mother will not get tired.

On the hand- this is also a position in which the mother feeds lying down. The woman also lies on her side, the baby lies on her arm opposite her face, while the lower arm hugs the child. This position is suitable for feeding at night.

Lying on a pillow- feeding lying down, in which the upper breast is used. The woman lies on her side with her hand under her head. The baby lies on a pillow opposite the nipple of the upper breast. Support the baby with the free hand.

- Mom is reclining, and the baby lies on top of his stomach to his stomach. The head is false to be slightly turned to the side. This position is best suited for strong streams of milk, which is often observed in the first months of lactation. When applied from above, the intensity of the milk flow will become weaker.

- mother hangs over the baby, and the child is on the table or bed. It is important that the child is slightly turned to the side, and not lying completely on his back! This position facilitates the descent of milk. Used to transition babies who are from bottle feeding to full breastfeeding. This position allows you to empty the central and lower lobes of the breasts.

Motion sickness while standing- the optimal position before bed for the baby. When feeding and rocking, the baby calms down and falls asleep faster. This posture combines both actions. The child is picked up, as in a regular or cross cradle.

What pose to choose

In the first time after the birth of the baby, it is enough to apply the basic postures, including the standard and cross cradle, the position from under the arm. At night, feeding on the arm will be the optimal position. At 4-6 months, introduce and apply new positions. A clever mother and a grown-up baby can try out non-standard types of feeding. For example, on the hip or when the baby is standing. Soon the woman gets used to feeding on the go.

Regardless of the choice of position, it is important to ensure that the nipple is properly grasped by the baby. Make sure the baby is grasping both the nipple and the areola. In this case, the nose and chin should rest, but not sink into the chest.