Breastfeeding after delivery
Breastfeeding soon after delivery has been a common practice for ages as it is essential that the baby learns to suckle and the milk production is stimulated in the mother. Breastmilk contains all the essential nutrients and antibodies needed by the infant in the first 6 months after birth. While the UNICEF and WHO recommend exclusive breastfeeding for the first few months of life, many women face challenges with post-delivery breastfeeding. Continuing to breastfeed exclusively – without any other food – for the first six months promotes sensory and cognitive development, and protects babies against infectious and chronic diseases
When should breastfeeding start?
Regardless of whether the delivery occurred at home, a birthing centre or a hospital, it is recommended that breastfeeding starts within the first hour of delivery. The caregivers need to encourage uninterrupted skin-to-skin contact between infants and mothers soon after birth so breastfeeding can start at the earliest. Immediate skin-to-skin contact helps regulate newborns’ body temperature and exposes them to beneficial bacteria from their mother’s skin. These good bacteria protect babies from infectious diseases and help build their immune systems. The breastfeeding delay period should be lowered as much as possible to stimulate the production of milk and to take advantage of the alertness of babies in the first few hours of life for feeding.
Difficulties with breastfeeding
First-time mothers need practical support from caregivers after delivery and even coaching especially breastfeeding after c-section. Sometimes the mothers are separated temporarily from the infants longer than what is ideal, and they need to be able to express breastmilk. New mothers will also need to learn to identify the infant’s cues for feeding and respond accordingly. This also involves recognizing when the baby is unable to latch on properly. Failure to latch properly can lead to other problems, such as increased demand for milk and lesser cues for the breasts to increase or maintain milk production.
How to tell when baby is ready to breastfeed
Newborn infants show instinctive cues that they are ready to feed. The signs include:
- Moving the head from side to side
- Opening the mouth
- Sticking the tongue out
- Pucker the lips in an attempt to suck
- Sucking the hands or fists
- Nuzzling against the breasts
- Rooting reflex- moving the mouth in the direction of a stimulus that is touching or stroking the cheek.
How to get the baby to latch
When the baby shows readiness to feed, follow these breastfeeding tips to help them latch on properly:
Bring the baby to the breast: When the baby indicates readiness to feed by opening the mouth, bring the baby to the breast and not the breast to the baby. That way, the baby will be able to take the areola into the mouth as much as possible. The baby’s lips should also be turned out (flanged) for a secure latch, and the nose should almost be touching the breast but not pressed against it.
Using the nipple sandwich hold: When offering the breast, it helps to compress it such that it forms a “sandwich” between the thumb and the index fingers. Compressing the breast this way helps the baby get a deep latch on the nipple.
How often to breastfeed the baby?
During the first weeks of life, most of the babies feed at least 8 to 12 times in 24 hours, or once in every 2 to 3 hours (starting time of one feeding to the starting time of the next feeding)
Conclusion
Ideally, breastfeeding the infant should start within an hour after delivery, along with lots of skin-to-skin contact with the mother. For first-time mothers breastfeeding will get easier in time as they learn to understand the cues of the infant and learn the proper techniques.
References:
https://www.unicef.org/stories/breastfeeding-first-hour-birth-what-works-and-what-hurts
https://kidshealth.org/en/parents/breastfeed-starting.html
https://www.pregnancybirthbaby.org.au/increasing-your-breast-milk-supply
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK326679/
Nutrition post-delivery Soon after delivery, the body goes into the postpartum period, which continues for 6 to 8 months until Read more
Due date calendar The pregnancy due date is an estimated date when the baby is expected to be born. It Read more
Signs of labor As pregnant women approach to labor, a number of symptoms begin to show, such as contractions or Read more
Giving birth by vaginal delivery Vaginal delivery has been the most common mode of giving birth throughout time. It is Read more
No Comments