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Pregnancy
I’m pregnant. What can I do or buy now to get ready for breastfeeding my baby?
You don’t have to buy anything to nurse your baby! Even nursing bras can wait until a couple of weeks after you have delivered your baby, so that the breast size will have stabilized. You don’t even have to wear a bra if you don’t want to, and, in fact, you should nurse at least once a day without a bra to enable all your ducts to empty completely. Your breasts require no preparation to breastfeed. You can invest in your own nursing knowledge by taking a breastfeeding class at a local hospital or doctor’s office, or coming to a Nursing Mothers of Raleigh meeting. You will learn valuable information and possibly be able to examine sample pillows or pumps. Perhaps you could borrow a nursing pillow from a friend to try it out for a few weeks before you commit to buying one of your own. In the early weeks of nursing, a hospital-grade pump is much better for stimulating milk production, and you can rent these rather than purchasing one.
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Newborns
What is colostrum?
Colostrum is the rich, yellow substance which is in the breasts from early pregnancy, and it is the first milk the newborn baby gets. It provides immonoglobulins which protect the baby against many diseases. It loosens mucous and aids in the early passage of meconium, the first stools, which are sticky and tar-like. Colostrum is very concentrated complete nutrition for your newborn.
What is jaundice? Will breastfeeding help to treat it?
Jaundice is an elevated level of billirubin in the tissues. It is often recognized by a yellowing of the skin. Bowel movements will excrete the billirubin from the baby’s system. Colostrum and breast milk act as a laxative to help lower billirubin levels.
What should a breastfed baby’s poop look like? How often should a newborn have a wet diaper?
In the first few days, newborn stools are a sticky, tar-like substance known as meconium. Later, breastfed babies’ stools are about the consistency of watery cottage cheese and the color of mustard. If a baby is completely breastfed, you should look to see that your baby has at least 6 wet diapers and 3 bowel movements in 24 hours. Most babies have more wet diapers than this, but it can be difficult to tell with disposable diapers. Breastfed babies’ stools are not nearly as foul-smelling as formula-fed babies’ stools. Once your baby begins to eat solid foods at six months, however, the stools will change and begin to smell stronger.
How often should I feed my newborn baby? How do I know if my baby is hungry? Should I give my baby supplemental water, sugar water, or formula?
Newborns are full of amniotic fluid which they have been swallowing before birth. They have never experienced hunger. It is important that the baby begin to associate sucking and swallowing with meeting his nutritional needs. The baby needs the colostrum to provide concentrated nutrition and protection against disease. Newborns typically take less than two ounces of milk at a feeding. Do not be tempted to give your baby water—it would fill the baby’s small stomach, taking the space needed for colostrum. A baby’s acceptance of a bottle does not mean he is hungry or that he wants it. Most babies will suck on anything which goes far enough back in the mouth to trigger the sucking reflex, especially if it is wet.
Remember that newborn babies signal their hunger long before they cry; crying is a late sign of hunger. Feed your baby when he or she shows early signs of hunger, such as becoming more alert, waving arms and legs, smacking lips, or mouthing his or her hand. You will soon learn your own baby’s unique way of communicating needs through body language. Some babies may nurse fairly often. Don’t worry about watching the clock; watch your baby. However, do not let your newborn go for more than 3 hours between the start of each nursing session. You may need to wake a newborn to nurse, and you may need to continue stimulating the baby by rubbing him or her, talking to him or her, or even taking off blankets and thick clothes so that the baby will be alert enough to nurse well.
While still in the hospital, be sure to ask the hospital staff if you can meet with a certified lactation consultant. She and your pediatrician are the best people to guide you in your decisions about whether your baby needs supplemental formula. If your baby has no major medical concerns and is able to latch on and nurse, there should be no need for any supplemental foods or drinks for the first six months of life.
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