What is Breastfeeding
Breastfeeding is when you feed your baby breast milk, usually directly from your breast. It’s also called nursing or chest-feeding. Making the decision to breastfeed is a personal matter. It’s also one that’s likely to draw opinions from your friends and family.
Many medical experts, including the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) and the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, strongly recommend breastfeeding exclusively (no formula, juice, or water) for 6 months. After the introduction of other foods, it recommends continuing to breastfeed through the baby’s first year of life.
How often you should breastfeed your baby depends on whether your baby prefers small, frequent meals or longer feedings. This will change as your baby grows. Newborns often want to feed every 2-3 hours. By 2 months, feeding every 3-4 hours is common, and by 6 months, most babies feed every 4-5 hours.
You and your baby are unique, and the decision to breastfeed is up to you.
Benefits of Breastfeeding
Benefits of breastfeeding for the baby
Breast milk provides the ideal nutrition for infants. It has a nearly perfect mix of vitamins, protein, and fat — everything your baby needs to grow. And it’s all provided in a form that’s more easily digested than infant formula. Breast milk contains antibodies that help your baby fight off viruses and bacteria. Breastfeeding lowers your baby’s risk of having asthma or allergies. Plus, babies who are breastfed exclusively for the first 6 months, without any formula, have fewer ear infections, respiratory illnesses, and bouts of diarrhea. They also have fewer hospitalizations and trips to the doctor.
Breastfeeding has been linked to higher IQ scores in later childhood in some studies. Breastfed infants are more likely to gain the right amount of weight as they grow, rather than becoming overweight in childhood. The AAP says breastfeeding also plays a role in the prevention of sudden infant death syndrome(SIDS). Breastfeeding has been thought to lower the risk of diabetes, obesity, and certain cancers as well, but more research is needed.
Breastfeeding benefits for you
The physical closeness, skin–to-skin touching, and eye contact all help your baby bond with you and feel secure.
Breastfeeding burns extra calories, so it can help you lose pregnancy weight faster. It releases the hormone oxytocin, which helps your uterus return to its pre-pregnancy size and may reduce uterine bleeding after birth. There are continued benefits from breastfeeding beyond 1 year, and up to 2 years, especially in the parent. Breastfeeding also lowers your risk of breast and ovarian cancer. It may lower your risk of osteoporosis, too.
As you don’t have to buy and measure formula, sterilize nipples, or warm bottles, it saves you time and money. It also gives you regular time to relax quietly with your newborn as you bond.
Signs Your Baby Is Hungry
One of the most common ways your baby will let you know they’re hungry is to cry. Other signs that indicate your baby is ready to be fed include:
- Licking their lips or sticking out their tongue
- Rooting, which is moving their jaw, mouth, or head to look for your breast
- Putting their hand in their mouth
- Opening their mouth
- Fussiness
- Sucking on things
How do I start breastfeeding?
- You can begin nursing your baby within an hour of birth. Hold your breast in your hand and — with your baby’s head slightly tipped back and their mouth open wide — squeeze your nipple and guide your baby to your breast. If your baby is properly latched, you’ll feel a tug when they begin nursing.
- If you’re nonbinary or were assigned male at birth (AMAB), you may need to take additional steps to begin lactating, which may include taking a hormone suppressor such as spironolactone to lower testosterone levels. Talk with your health care provider on how to prepare for nursing your baby.
Things to consider before breastfeeding
It may take time to establish a nursing routine with your baby. Some parents struggle to achieve a good latch with their newborn. Latch quality can affect things such as pain levels, milk supply, and even how long you breastfeed. Not getting a proper latch can lead to discomfort and sometimes force new parents to stop breastfeeding before they’re ready. Even if your baby isn’t properly latching at first, you can develop a good latch with time and practice.
Additionally, there are certain foods you should avoid while breastfeeding, which include:
- Alcohol. If you drink, you’ll need to wait to nurse until the alcohol levels have cleared from your breast milk. Typically, this takes 2-3 hours per drink that you’ve had. If you’re planning to have a few drinks, it might be a good idea to store some milk beforehand.
- Caffeine. Try not to drink more than two cups of caffeinated beverages a day while breastfeeding. The excess caffeine in your breast milk could disrupt your baby’s sleep schedule.
- Fish. Seafoods such as swordfish and king mackerel contain high amounts of mercury that could be transferred to your baby through your milk.
What should I expect when I start breastfeeding?
At first, your breasts will make a thick, yellowish substance called colostrum that is packed with important nutrients that your baby’s immune system needs early on. After about 3 days, your milk will start to come in, though this may take longer for first-time parents. You may notice your breasts becoming firmer as this happens, and they might leak sometimes. If your breasts become too full with milk, you may experience some discomfort. Your nipples can become sore or cracked early on.
As you and your baby figure out your routine for nursing, breastfeeding shouldn’t be painful. But don’t hesitate to reach out to your health care provider if you are struggling to get a good latch or having a lot of pain. They can help you figure out the issue or connect you with a lactation consultant, a specialist in breastfeeding education.
