Important facts you need to know

Breastfeeding your newborn

You are pregnant or have just given birth to a mini person, and now you’re facing the big question: should I breastfeed my baby? You may not yet be certain whether you want to breastfeed your baby, or perhaps you have already made up your mind that you want to do so. In both cases, it makes sense to read up on breastfeeding. How would you like it to be, how do you want to approach it and how will you deal with it if it doesn’t work out or if you can’t continue as expected?

Why choose to breastfeed your newborn baby?

Why choose to breastfeed your newborn baby?

There are many benefits to breastfeeding your baby. Breast milk contains all the essential nutrients your newborn needs in the first six months of life. It perfectly balances fats, proteins, carbohydrates, vitamins and minerals. In addition, breastfeeding helps to strengthen your newborn baby’s immune system. It contains antibodies that protect against infections and diseases. Furthermore, breastfed babies have a reduced risk of developing allergies, eczema, and asthma. In addition to benefits for the baby, it is also good for the mother. For example, breastfeeding stimulates the hormone oxytocin, which helps to shrink the uterus faster and reduces blood loss after childbirth.

Expressing your breast milk

Expressing your breast milk

If you are breastfeeding, there is a good chance that you will also start expressing milk. Of course, you can also choose not to express. Expressing your milk can be useful in addition to “live breastfeeding”, as it gives a number of benefits: it means you can feed breast milk to your baby even when you are not there, e.g., by having your partner feed your baby. But it also helps to keep milk production going when you cannot feed your baby right away. Get good advice about a good breast pump and which one suits you. For example, you can choose a manual or an electric breast pump and between a single or double pump (to pump both breasts simultaneously).

Breastfeeding your newborn

How to get started

You have decided that you would like to breastfeed, but how are you going to go about it? Starting to breastfeed your newborn can be a beautiful, but also daunting experience. The first few days are important to start milk production and develop an agreeable routine.

  • Read all about breastfeeding during pregnancy and, if possible, follow a breastfeeding course.
  • Once your baby is born, it’s best to start latching your baby as quickly as possible after birth, preferably within an hour. Of course, this is not always possible, for example when your baby has initial problems, or when there are medical issues with the mother or after a cesarean section, especially under emergency conditions. This first hour is the period in which your baby is keen to latch on and drink.
    Skin-to-skin contact: place your baby directly on your bare chest. This stimulates milk production and helps the baby to look for and suck the breast itself.
  • Getting your baby to latch correctly is very important because it will prevent sore nipples and insufficient intake of nutrition. Your obstetrician, gynecologist, or lactation specialist can help with the right latching technique.
  • Try to recognize your baby’s hunger signals and feed your baby at the first signs of hunger. The more you feed, the more milk your body will produce. Signs of hunger are, for example, when your baby drools all over its fists, smacks its lips or twists its head.

It is important to remember that you have to be very patient, especially in the beginning. In the first days after childbirth, your body produces colostrum, which is a thick, nutritious liquid rich in antibodies. Within 2 to 5 days, your production will usually increase and the “real” breast milk will start to flow.

 

Tips for successfully breastfeeding your newborn

For a successful breastfeeding experience, we have compiled a few tips to help you do just that.

  • Feeding on demand
    Breastfeed your baby whenever he or she seems hungry, rather than according to a fixed schedule. That can be 8 to 12 times a day in the first few weeks!
    Take your time. The first days and weeks can be difficult, take the time to get used to this period.
  • Try out different breastfeeding positions
    And choose the one that’s most comfortable for you. Make sure your back is well supported and that you can relax while feeding.
  • Make sure both breasts are depleted
    Let your baby drink properly from one breast before moving to the other breast. This stimulates milk production, but it also ensures that your baby gets high-fat, nutritious milk (hindmilk), which is important for growth.
    Seek support. It can be nice to talk to other mothers or join a breastfeeding group. Advice from a lactation consultant can also provide valuable input.
  • Stay relaxed
    Stress may hinder milk production, so it’s crucial that you stay relaxed. That’s not always easy if things don’t go the way you’d like. If you find yourself getting stressed, try to do breathing exercises, put on soft music while feeding, and try to stay calm.
  • Make sure that you eat and drink in sufficient quantities
    Drink enough during breastfeeding and eat a varied and nutritious diet to maintain your energy levels and support your milk production. Additional calories are needed during breastfeeding.
  • Be patient: practice makes perfect!
    All beginnings are difficult, especially the first few weeks can be challenging. Whether it’s your first time breastfeeding or you’ve done it before, every time it’s different. Keep practicing and you will find that it will get easier and easier.

Supplementary feeding and combining breastfeeding and bottle feeding

Supplementary feeding and combining breastfeeding and bottle feeding

In the early stages of your breastfeeding adventure, your milk production may not yet be sufficiently strong, or your baby may not thrive enough on your milk. Then you may have to decide (often together with a healthcare professional) to supplement your baby’s feeding with artificial nutrition in addition to breastfeeding. You can also make your own choice to combine breastfeeding and formula feeding. This will allow you to be flexible in your schedule. Keep track of your schedule easily in the diary in our app!

Challenges of breastfeeding a newborn baby

There are many benefits of breastfeeding, but it can also be challenging at times. Especially in the early stages, it often takes some getting use to or you may encounter certain obstacles:

  • Nipple fissures or sore nipples
    Especially in the beginning, many mothers experience sore or nipple fissures. This can be caused, for example, by the baby not latching on properly. It is important to have a good latching technique; a lactation consultant can help with this.
  • Mastitis
    Breast inflammation (mastitis) is an inflammation of the breast tissue. This occurs when the mammary glands in the breast become inflamed, usually due to a blocked milk duct or a bacterial infection. This is often accompanied by fever, redness, and swelling. It is important to continue breastfeeding even when you have a breast infection. Regular feeding helps to empty the milk ducts. A lot of rest, warmth, and sufficient moisture (lots of drinking!) can provide relief. Sometimes antibiotics are needed, consult a doctor if the symptoms do not improve after 24 hours, if there is severe pain, high fever, or if you feel very sick.
  • Milk production
    Perhaps your milk production has to get going for a while and you will have little to no production in the first few days. Especially after a cesarean section, it can take a while for milk production to start. There may also be other causes of low production: irregular or inadequate feeding, poor latching technique, maternal health problems, stress and fatigue, and use of formula. Contact your obstetrician or lactation consultant to help you if you think that your milk production is (too) low.
  • Expressing milk and working
    If you go back to work after your maternity leave and are still breastfeeding, this may present quite a challenge. You can no longer feed your child yourself all day. To maintain your milk production, you can develop a convenient schedule and use a pumping device. You have the right to express in time during your work, and your employer is also obliged to provide you with an appropriate space available where you can express your milk. Discuss with your employer the available options.

 

When breastfeeding your newborn baby doesn’t work

What if you chose not to breastfeed, if you tried and it turns out that breastfeeding does not work for you, or if you tried everything in your power but it didn’t work out? That’s okay, too. The most important thing is that both you and your baby are healthy and happy. Whatever the reason for stopping breastfeeding, it is sometimes not easy to accept it. Don’t be hard on yourself, not being able to breastfeed does not reflect your skills as a parent or on the bond with your baby. If the emotional acceptance is difficult, it may help to talk about it. You can do so with your partner. But also with a friend, a family member, or a professional.

 

Very important to remember!

It is important to remember that every mother and every baby is unique. What works for your sister, neighbor or friend does not mean that it works for you, and vice versa. Be proud of yourself, you’re doing your best and that’s what counts. Relax, enjoy this special time together, but also try to accept it if it doesn’t go the way you thought it would or if you have to change plans while breastfeeding because it doesn’t go according to your expectations.